title: Osteogenesis imperfecta and rapid maxillary expansion: Report of 3 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of orthopedic therapy with rapid maxillary expansion (RME) in growing patients affected by osteogenesis imperfecta and treated with bisphosphonates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three boys with osteogenesis imperfecta (mean age, 10.6 years) were treated with RME. They all had treatment with quarterly intravenous infusions of bisphosphonates. They were in either the early or the late mixed dentition and had indications for RME. The expansion screw was activated twice daily until correction of the transverse relationships was achieved. The retention period with the expander in place was 6 months. In 2 Class III patients, RME was associated with the use of a facemask. In all patients, occlusal radiographs were taken at the end of active RME therapy to assess the opening of the midpalatal suture and 1 year after the end of active expansion therapy to evaluate the reossification and reorganization of the midpalatal suture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all patients, the opening of the midpalatal suture and the healing with reorganization of the midpalatal suture were documented with the occlusal radiographs. No complications were found after a 1-year follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In growing patients affected by osteogenesis imperfecta and treated with bisphosphonates, it is possible to perform RME with a standard protocol with no complications after a 1-year follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Assistant professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Sciences, Pediatric Dentistry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ierardo
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate student, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Sciences, Pediatric Dentistry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Calcagnile
authors.affiliation: Assistant professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Sciences, Pediatric Dentistry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Luzzi
authors.affiliation: Assistant professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Sciences, Pediatric Dentistry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ladniak
authors.affiliation: Assistant professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Sciences, Pediatric Dentistry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bossu
authors.affiliation: Assistant professor, Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Neuropsychiatry, Center for Congenital Osteodystrophy, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Celli
authors.affiliation: Assistant professor, Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Neuropsychiatry, Center for Congenital Osteodystrophy, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zambrano
authors.affiliation: Assistant professor, Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Thomas M. Graber Visiting Scholar, Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich. Electronic address: lorenzo.franchi@unifi.it.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Franchi
authors.affiliation: Professor and chair, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Sciences, Pediatric Dentistry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polimeni
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010013:Osteogenesis Imperfecta / Q000473:pathology*; D010155:Palatal Expansion Technique