Comparison of the effects of RME and fan-type RME on nasal airway by using acoustic rhinometry.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate and compare the nasal airway changes following rapid maxillary expansion (RME) and fan-type RME using acoustic rhinometry (AR).


METHODS
The study sample consisted of three groups. The RME group comprised 15 subjects with maxillary transverse discrepancies and posterior crossbites. The fan-type RME group comprised 15 subjects, who had an anteriorly constricted maxilla with a normal intermolar width. The third group included 15 patients who had an ideal occlusion and received no orthodontic treatment and served as the control group. AR was used to measure nasal volume and the minimal cross-sectional area (MCA) before expansion (T1), after expansion (T2), and 6 months after expansion (T3). Each AR recording was performed with and without the use of a decongestant. Two-way analysis of variance was used to determine differences among the groups and three-way analysis of variance was used for the differences between groups. If evidence of statistically significant differences was found, a Bonferroni test was used.


RESULTS
The results showed that nasal volume and MCA were significantly increased with RME and fan-type RME immediately after expansion (P < .05). At the end of retention, nasal volume and MCA values of RME showed significant differences with both expansion fan-type RME and control groups (P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
RME and fan-type RME had similar effects on the nasal airway immediately after expansion. The increase in nasal volume and MCA was more stable in the RME group than in the fan-type RME group at the end of the retention period.
Sökücü
Oral
O
Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey. almanoral@hotmail.com
Doruk
Cenk
C
Uysal
O Ismail
OI
D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D019412:Anatomy, Cross-Sectional; D002648:Child; D003481:Cuspid / Q000473:pathology; D003724:Dental Arch / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008437:Maxilla / Q000473:pathology; D008963:Molar / Q000473:pathology; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000473:pathology; D014663:Nasal Decongestants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009666:Nose / Q000473:pathology*; D016382:Orthodontic Appliance Design; D018704:Orthodontic Retainers; D010155:Palatal Expansion Technique / Q000145:classification / Q000295:instrumentation; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000502:physiology; D012008:Recurrence; D023842:Rhinometry, Acoustic
D014663:Nasal Decongestants