Dentoskeletal effects of slow versus rapid maxillary expansion: a retrospective CBCT study

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare through CBCT measurements the dentoskeletal effects of slow maxillary expansion (SME) versus rapid maxillary expansion (RME) in growing patients treated with appliances anchored on the deciduous teeth.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present was a retrospective comparative study considering two groups of growing patients in mixed dentition matched by age, sex and initial malocclusion treated with SME, by Leaf Expander, and with RME. Nineteen patients per group were included. CBCT measurements were performed before the start of treatment (T0) and after the removal of the appliance (T1). 3D landmarks were identified in order to calculate the skeletal expansion, the dental expansion and the total area of expansion. Within- group differences were analyzed through Wilcoxon sum rank test, whereas the between-group ones through Mann-Whitney U-test.

RESULTS: No baseline differences were observed between the groups. Both expanders resulted in a significant skeletal and dental expansion (P <0.001). The RME group resulted in 1 mm more of skeletal expansion compared to the SME group (P = 0.0023). Dental expansion and expansion area were higher for the RME group but with no relevant differences between groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Both RME and SME can induce skeletal and dental expansion when anchored on primary teeth in growing patients. RME might produce slightly more skeletal expansion than SME but there is low clinical relevance of such difference.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Considering the compliance-free nature of SME and its mechanism of continuous light force delivery it can be and efficient approach for transversal maxilla development in growing patients.

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