title: Stability of rapid maxillary expansion and facemask therapy: a long-term controlled study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this prospective controlled study was to evaluate the long-term effects of rapid maxillary expansion and facemask therapy in Class III subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two subjects (9 boys, 13 girls; mean age, 9.2 years ± 1.6) with Class III disharmony were treated consecutively with rapid maxillary expansion and facemask therapy followed by fixed appliances. The patients were reevaluated at the end of the 2-phase treatment (mean age, 14.5 years ± 1.9) and then recalled about 8.5 years after the end of rapid maxillary expansion and facemask treatment (mean age, 18.7 years ± 2.1). Two groups of controls with untreated Class III malocclusion were used for statistical comparisons of the short-term and long-term intervals. Statistical comparisons were performed with the Mann-Whitney U test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the long term, no significant differences in maxillary changes were recorded, whereas the treatment group showed significantly smaller increases in mandibular protrusion. The sagittal maxillomandibular skeletal variables maintained significant improvements in the treatment group vs the control groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the long term, rapid maxillary expansion and facemask therapy led to successful outcomes in about 73% of the Class III patients. Favorable skeletal changes were mainly due to significant improvements in the sagittal position of the mandible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Masucci
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Franchi
authors.forename: Efisio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Defraia
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mucedero
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cozza
authors.forename: Tiziano
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baccetti
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D005115:Extraoral Traction Appliances; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008313:Malocclusion, Angle Class III / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008334:Mandible / Q000473:pathology; D008437:Maxilla / Q000473:pathology; D009295:Nasal Bone / Q000473:pathology; D016382:Orthodontic Appliance Design; D009967:Orthodontic Appliances; D018704:Orthodontic Retainers; D010155:Palatal Expansion Technique / Q000295:instrumentation; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012658:Sella Turcica / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome