title: Early treatment of Class III malocclusion with RME and facial mask: evaluation of dentoalveolar effects on digital dental casts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the dental effects on digital dental casts in subjects with Class III malocclusion treated with bonded Rapid Maxillary Expansion and Facial Mask (RME/FM).
  
  
  METHODS
  A study group sample (SG) of 29 subjects (13 females and 16 males) and mean age of 7.4 years (SD 1.2 years) was selected. A bonded RME was placed and activated 1/4 of a turn per day until overcorrection of the transverse width. At the end of expansion, patients were given FMs and treated at least to a positive overjet. The SG was compared with a control group (CG) of 21 prepubertal subjects (9 females; 12 males) presenting with normal occlusion and mean age of 7.9 years (SD 1.6 years). For each subject of the SG and CG initial (pretreatment, T1) and final (post-treatment, T2) digital dental casts were available. Significant in between-group differences were tested with the Student's t-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The transverse dimension of the upper arch was significantly greater in SG vs. CG (IMAW: +2.6 mm; ICAW: +3.1 mm). Anterior arch length and arch depth were significantly smaller in SG when compared with CG (AAL: -3.2 mm, AD: -3.4 mm) at the end of therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The orthopaedic treatment with bonded RME/FM produced in subjects treated in the deciduous or early mixed dentition a significant expansion of the maxillary arch and mesialisation of the posterior teeth with a reduction of the arch depth.
authors.affiliation: Research Fellow, Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lione
authors.affiliation: Research Fellow, Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buongiorno
authors.affiliation: Research Fellow, Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Laganà
authors.affiliation: Professor and Department Chair, Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cozza
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Franchi
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003735:Dental Casting Technique; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008313:Malocclusion, Angle Class III / Q000628:therapy*; D008397:Masks; D010155:Palatal Expansion Technique