Longitudinal stability of rapid and slow maxillary expansion

Fábio Henrique de Sá Leitão PINHEIRO, Daniela Gamba GARIB, Guilherme JANSON, Roberto BOMBONATTI, Marcos Roberto de FREITAS

Objective: The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the longitudinal stability of two types of posterior crossbite correction: rapid maxillary expansion (RME) and slow maxillary expansion (SME). Methods: Study casts of 90 adolescent patients were assessed for interdental width changes at three different periods: pretreatment (T1), post-treatment (T2) and at least, five years post-retention (T3). Three groups of 30 patients were established according to the treatment received to correct posterior crossbite: Group A (RME), group B (SME) and group C (control- Edgewise therapy only). After crossbite correction, all patients received fixed edgewise orthodontic appliances. Paired t-tests and one-way ANOVA were used to identify significant intra and intergroup changes, respectively (P < 0.05). Results: Except for intercanine distance, all widths increased in groups A and B from T1 to T2. In the long-term, the amount of relapse was not different for groups A and B, except for 3-3 widths which showed greater decrease in group A. However, the percentage of clinically relapsed cases of posterior crossbite was similar for rapid and slow maxillary expansion. Conclusion: Rapid and slow maxillary expansion showed similar stability in the long-term.

Keywords: Palatal expansion technique. Orthodontics. Treatment outcomes.

How to cite: Pinheiro FHSL, Garib DG, Janson G, Bombonatti R, Freitas MR. Longitudinal stability of rapid and slow maxillary expansion. Dental Press J Orthod. 2014 Nov-Dec;19(6):70-7. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/2176- 9451.19.6.070-077.oar

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