Long-term effect on adenoid dimensions and craniocervical angulation after maxillary expansion with fixed or functional appliances

Abstract

Background Maxillary expansion is a common orthodontic procedure that could have a positive effect also on airway patency. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the long-term effects of rapid maxillary expansion (RME) on nasopharyngeal area and cranio-cervical angulation in growing patients, compared to controls treated with a function-generating bite appliance (FGB). Material and Methods Sixty patients aged 6-14 consecutively treated with RME or FGB were selected retrospectively and divided into two groups. Lateral cephalograms taken before and after treatment were retrieved, and the nasopharyngeal area, delimited superiorly by a sella-posterior nasal spine (PNS) line and inferiorly by a basion-PNS line, and the cranio-cervical angulation were measured. Results The mean observation time was 17.6 ± 8 months. No differences were present between the two groups regarding age and gender. The nasopharyngeal area increased significantly in both groups after treatment, but with no statistically significant difference between them. The cranio-cervical angulation showed no differences within or between groups. Conclusions Maxillary deficiency treatment with either RME or FGB was followed by a comparable increase in nasopharyngeal area. Key words: Rapid maxillary expansion, Airway, Nasopharyngeal area, Adenoid.

Effects of Twin-Block with expanding device on the upper airway in growing children with skeletal class II malocclusion -a retrospective study based on the consistency of three-dimensional data and two-dimensional data

“…A narrow palate is in fact a characteristic often found in Class II patients, which is routinely treated by transverse maxillary de ciency involves maxillary expander [27] . Since maxillary expander can signi cantly expand the patient's nasopharyngeal airway and remain stable [27] , the expansion of NP may be a positive impact of maxillary expander.Besides,the size of adenoids are major factors that determine the size of PA [28] . We cannot ignore that the age range of this experiment is 9-15 years old, and the aging change of adenoid size may have a certain impact on the NP.…”

“…The effects of Twin-Block appliances with maxillary expander on the NP Since NP, PP and GP segments were selected as strongly and moderately correlated between threedimensional CBCT data and two-dimensional lateral cephalogram data, the following study of the effects of Twin-Block with maxillary expander on the UA in growing children was performed in these segments on lateral cephalograms.As for NP, this study found that Twin-Block with maxillary expander can signi cantly expand the NP of patients which is consistent with the results of most studies [24][25][26] . A narrow palate is in fact a characteristic often found in Class II patients, which is routinely treated by transverse maxillary de ciency involves maxillary expander [27] . Since maxillary expander can signi cantly expand the patient's nasopharyngeal airway and remain stable [27] , the expansion of NP may be a positive impact of maxillary expander.Besides,the size of adenoids are major factors that determine the size of PA [28] .…”