Effects of rapid maxillary expansion on Holdaway soft tissue measurements.
The objective of the present study was to evaluate short-term soft tissue changes caused by rapid maxillary expansion (RME) in 18 subjects (15 females and 3 males) (mean age 13 years 6 months) with a bilateral posterior crossbite. Lateral cephalograms of the patients were obtained at three different time points: before RME (T1), after maxillary expansion (mean = 0.82 month) (T2), and after retention (mean = 5.95 months) (T3). Holdaway soft tissue measurements were used for the evaluation of soft tissue changes. Data were analysed statistically by means of paired t-tests. The facial soft tissue angle decreased (P < 0.05), and H angle and skeletal profile convexity increased significantly (P < 0.001) at T2. During T3, the increase in the facial soft tissue angle and the decrease in H angle were minimal and not significant, while skeletal profile convexity significantly decreased (P < 0.001). The results of this study indicate that RME may affect Holdaway soft tissue measurements.
Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
Nihat
N
Kiliç
Ali
A
Kiki
Hüsamettin
H
Oktay
Abdulvahit
A
Erdem
D000293:Adolescent; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000628:therapy*; D008437:Maxilla; D008445:Maxillofacial Development; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000379:methods*; D010155:Palatal Expansion Technique; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome