title: Effects of rapid maxillary expansion on nasal mucociliary clearance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the changes in nasal mucociliary clearance in orthodontic patients after rapid maxillary expansion (RME) therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two children (25 boys and 17 girls) participated in this study. The RME group consisted of 21 patients (mean age, 13.8 years), who had undergone RME at the initiation of orthodontic treatment. The control group consisted of 21 subjects (mean age, 13.6 years), who were attending the department of orthodontics for active orthodontic treatment. The nasal mucociliary clearance was assessed by the saccharin test. Saccharin transit times (STTs) were measured for each treated subject before expansion (T1), after RME (T2), and after a 3-month retention period (T3). Records were obtained at the same time intervals for each group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The STT decreased significantly in the RME group after expansion and retention (P < .05). A statistically significant difference was found when the STTs of the control and RME groups were compared after expansion and retention (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The STTs of young orthodontic patients with maxillary narrowness and without any history of nasal or systemic disease were within normal limits. However, RME increased the mucociliary clearance in patients who had maxillary narrowness, having positive effects on nasal physiology and increasing nasal cavity volume.
authors.affiliation: a  Professor, Faculty of Dentistry Department of Orthodontics, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Babacan
authors.affiliation: b  Professor, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Orthodontics, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cenk
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Doruk
authors.affiliation: c  Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ismail Onder
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Uysal
authors.affiliation: c  Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey.
authors.forename: Salim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yuce
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla; D009079:Mucociliary Clearance; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000502:physiology*; D009666:Nose / Q000502:physiology*; D010155:Palatal Expansion Technique
keywords: Nasal mucociliary clearance; Rapid maxillary expansion; Saccharin transit time