title: eRME--rapid maxillary expansion in the economic way.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Rapid Maxillary Expansion constitutes a routine clinical procedure in orthodontics, involving separation of mid-palatine suture which is usually done with help of the Hyrax screw. However, because of its high cost, the use has been limited, especially in institutions. So, the purpose of this study was to construct an economical device which can expand the maxillary arch in growing patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six patients having constricted maxilla and posterior skeletal crossbite were randomly selected from the Department of Orthodontics. A unique, easy and simple alternative device for expanding the maxillary arch called economic Rapid Maxillary Expander (eRME) has been fabricated at about one-tenth the cost of the conventional Hyrax. Pre- and post-treatment effects were statistically tested by using paired t-test at 0.05 level of significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study results showed an average expansion in canine, premolar and molar regions of 4.4 mm, 6.8 mm and 9.4 mm, respectively, having significant difference pre-and post-treatment. Thus, it shows that maxillary expansion is efficiently possible with the application of this newly constructed device named eRME. This appliance also acts as a fixed retainer to avoid relapse, hence negating the need for a separate retainer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Ahmedabad Dental College and Hospital, Ahmedabad, India. mahadeviasonali@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: Sonali
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mahadevia
authors.forename: Nozar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Daruwala
authors.forename: Malay
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vaghamshi
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000191:economics; D001641:Bicuspid; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003481:Cuspid; D003724:Dental Arch / Q000473:pathology; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000191:economics; D012994:Dental Soldering; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008437:Maxilla / Q000473:pathology; D008963:Molar; D016382:Orthodontic Appliance Design / Q000191:economics*; D009967:Orthodontic Appliances / Q000191:economics*; D016910:Orthodontic Brackets / Q000191:economics; D018704:Orthodontic Retainers / Q000191:economics; D009969:Orthodontic Wires / Q000191:economics; D010155:Palatal Expansion Technique / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D003764:Dental Materials