title: Assessment of the efficiency of Erbium-YAG laser as an assistant method to rapid maxillary expansion: An in vivo study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Maxillary transverse deficiency (MTD) is one of the most pervasive and common skeletal problems in the craniofacial complex. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of associating the application of Erbium-YAG laser with rapid maxillary expansion (RME) for treating MTD in young adult patients with permanent dentition in regard to skeletal and dental effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four subjects, aged from 15.5 to 19 years and needing RME as a therapeutic procedure, were randomly assigned to either the laser group (n=12) or the control group (n=12). The RME was realized by a two bands hyrax expander cemented on upper first molars. Patients in the laser group were undergone mucosal-bony perforations along the midpalatal suture every month, for three consecutive months, using Erbium-YAG laser. Postero-anterior cephalograms were taken for all patients. Skeletal and dental changes before and after RPE as well as at the end of the retention phase were collected and compared for both groups. Total time needed for expansion and retention were recorded and compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The findings showed more significant changes in most maxillofacial components in the laser group after the expansion phase. However, there was no significant differences with respect to retention or total treatment duration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laser assisted rapid maxillary expansion (LARME) can be a good approach to use for improving skeletal effects in young adult patients suffering from MTD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria. Electronic address: shadi.moawad@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Shadi George
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Moawad
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, School of Dental Medicine, Saint-Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon; Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon; Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston University, Boston, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bouserhal
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Albaath University, Homs, Syria.
authors.forename: Mohammad Kusai
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Al-Munajed
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D008437:Maxilla / Q000601:surgery; D010155:Palatal Expansion Technique / Q000295:instrumentation*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Erbium-YAG laser; Maxillary transverse deficiency; Postero-anterior cephalometry; Rapid maxillary expansion