title: A New Designed Expander Supported by Spike Miniscrews With Enhanced Stability.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This article represents a new design of expander-spike expander-to correct transverse maxillary deficiency. This new type appliance is easy to fabricate, more hygienic, and less soft-tissue irritation because of elimination of acrylic plate. In addition, because of the position of mini-implant, it can provide a relatively parallel alveolar expansion, compared with other types of expander.
  
  
  METHODS
  The spike expander consists of 2 parts: 4 spike screws and an expansion screw. Four spike screws were placed on the palatal slope. After installation of the spike screws, based on the position of spike screw, the extension arms of expansion screw were bended on the cast model, and connected to the spike screws by adding resin. The expansion screw was turned once a day (0.25 mm/d), and the process was terminated at 6 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The stability and design of the spike screw enable widening of maxilla easier. Compared with other expander, spike expander reduces the forces being placed directly on teeth, which can maximize skeletal expansion, minimize dental tipping, produce a relatively parallel expansion, and reduce soft-tissue irritation caused by acrylic pads. Furthermore, the teeth can be aligned and leveled simultaneously using the fixed appliance because teeth are free of contact by the expander. And the best point for spike expander is that it is simply fabricated and removed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The design of spike expander is combining spike screws and an expansion screw, which can provide a good and easy treatment method for transverse maxillary deficiency.
authors: *Department of Orthodontics †Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Yu
authors: Y
authors: Chen
authors: Kyung A
authors: KA
authors: Kim
authors: Kyung Won
authors: KW
authors: Seo
authors: Yoon-Goo
authors: YG
authors: Kang
authors: Song-Hee
authors: SH
authors: Oh
authors: Yong-Suk
authors: YS
authors: Choi
authors: Seong-Hun
authors: SH
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001863:Bone Screws; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D008313:Malocclusion, Angle Class III / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D008437:Maxilla / Q000601:surgery*; D016382:Orthodontic Appliance Design; D010155:Palatal Expansion Technique / Q000295:instrumentation*