Tomographic analysis of midpalatal suture prior to rapid maxillary expansion

Ilana Oliveira CHRISTOVAM, Cinthia de Oliveira LISBOA, Giselle Naback Lemes VILANI, Roberto Carlos Bodart BRANDÃO, Maria Augusta Portella Guedes VISCONTI, Claudia Trindade MATTOS, Antônio Carlos de Oliveira RUELLAS

Introduction: In Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedics, the timing of treatment onset may be critical and individual analysis should be applied to promote a favorable treatment planning. In this study, individual analysis of midpalatal suture (MS) and palatal measurements were performed in teenagers and young adult patients treated with rapid maxillary expansion (RME). Description: Twenty-six patients submitted to RME with a tooth-supported appliance (Hyrax) were evaluated. The inclusion criteria were: minimum age of 14 years, presenting all posterior teeth, diagnosed with transverse maxillary discrepancy, and with a clinical indication for maxillary expansion. The pretreatment CBCT scans of these patients were assessed to obtain the stages of MS maturation (MSM); density ratio (MSD); and palatal length, thickness (anterior, intermediate and posterior) and sagittal area. Results: The maturation stages present were C, D or E; the density ranged from 0.6 to 1, and lower density (MSD < 0.75) and higher density (MSD ≥ 0.75) groups were determined. Individuals with higher MSD presented smaller sagittal area, compared to the lower density group. Individuals in D and E MSM stages presented smaller sagittal area and intermediate thickness, compared to stage C. Conclusions: Smaller palatal sagittal area was observed in the high MSD groups and in the stages D and E of MSM.

Keywords: Palatal expansion technique. Imaging, three-dimensional. Cone-beam computed tomography.

How to cite: Christovam IO, Lisboa CO, Vilani GNL, Brandão RCB, Visconti MAPG, Mattos CT, Ruellas ACO. Tomographic analysis of midpalatal suture prior to rapid maxillary expansion. Dental Press J Orthod. 2021;26(3):e2119300. https://doi.org/10.1590/2177-6709.26.3.e2119300.oar

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