Effect of rapid maxillary expander with posterior bite blocks in hyperdivergent patients with adenoid hypertrophy- A cephalometric study

Abstract

To analyze the effect of Rapid Maxillary Expansion (RME) with posterior bite blocks on craniofacial structures in hyperdivergent patients with adenoid hypertrophy and to compare them with control group. 32 patients of adenoid hypertrophy (mean age 11.6 yrs, range 8-12 years) with a transverse discrepancy were selected and divided into two groups in a random way - Group A: (n=16) hyrax RME with posterior bite block group, Group B: (n=16) control group. Group A- Lateral and Posteroanterior cephalograms were recorded pretreatment (T0), postexpansion (T1), and after 9 months retention (T2). Group B- Lateral and Posteroanterior cephalograms were recorded pretreatment (T0), and after 9 months (T2) concurrent with Group A. Cephalometric measurements in sagittal, vertical and transverse dimensions were taken and comparison was made using Paired and Unpaired t-test with p < 0.05 as statistically significant. Group A underwent insignificant increase in SN-MP angle whereas it increased significantly in Group B. The lower facial height and jarabak’s ratio decreased significantly. All transverse parameters increased significantly with maximum increase in intermolar width when compared with Group B. Significant increase in the transverse dimensions of mid face occurs with RME thus increasing the upper airway patency and effective control of the vertical growth pattern, typical of adenoid hypertrophy, was seen in the treatment group when compared with the control group.