Pulpal blood flow changes due to rapid maxillary expansion.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the pulpal blood flow (PBF) changes in anchorage teeth associated with the high forces of a rapid maxillary expansion (RME) appliance.


METHODS
The study was performed with 14 girls and 7 boys for a total of 21 patients between 10 and 15 years of age (mean, 13.1 +/- 1.39 years). A modified acrylic bonded RME appliance was used as an expansion appliance. Laser Doppler flowmetry was used for the pulpal perfusion measurements. Records were taken from 42 upper central incisors, 28 canines, and 42 first molars at the following time intervals: just before expansion (T1); at the first week of expansion (T2); at the end of the expansion process (T3); and at the third (T4), seventh (T5), and 12th weeks of retention (T6). The data gained were statistically evaluated by parametric tests.


RESULTS
PBF values of the anchorage teeth were doubled at the first week of expansion; however, these values began to decrease because of separation of the median palatal suture. PBF values tended to reach their initial values during the retention period. Pulpal perfusion changes of all examined anchorage teeth were similar to each other from the beginning to the end of the evaluation.


CONCLUSIONS
PBF changes that occur with RME are reversible.
Babacan
Hasan
H
Department of Orthodontics, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey. babacanhasan@yahoo.com
Doruk
Cenk
C
Bicakci
A Altug
AA
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000098:blood supply*; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008297:Male; D052280:Orthodontic Anchorage Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation; D010155:Palatal Expansion Technique; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric