Nasal cavity volume changes after rapid maxillary expansion in adolescents evaluated with 3-dimensional simulation and modeling programs

• Published in: American journal of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics 2011-11, Vol.140 (5), p.633-640
• Main Authors: Görgülü, Serkan, Gokce, Sila Mermut, Olmez, Huseyin, Sagdic, Deniz, Ors, Fatih
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Bicuspid - diagnostic imaging; Bicuspid - pathology; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Computer Simulation; Dental Arch - diagnostic imaging; Dental Arch - pathology; Dentistry; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted - methods; Imaging, Three-Dimensional - methods; Male; Malocclusion - therapy; Maxilla - diagnostic imaging; Maxilla - pathology; Medical sciences; Models, Anatomic; Molar - diagnostic imaging; Molar - pathology; Multidetector Computed Tomography - methods; Nasal Cartilages - diagnostic imaging; Nasal Cavity - diagnostic imaging; Nasal Cavity - pathology; Orthodontic Appliance Design; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Palatal Expansion Technique - instrumentation; Prospective Studies; Software
• ISSN: 0889-5406; 1097-6752
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajodo.2010.12.020

Introduction The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of rapid maxillary expansion on nasal cavity volume by using 3-dimensional simulation and modeling programs. Methods The study group consisted of 15 patients (9 boys, 6 girls; mean age, 13.86 years) with maxillary constriction. Computed tomography scans were obtained before treatment and 6 months after the end of expansion. All computed tomography data were transferred to a computer, and the nasal cavity and maxillary teeth were segmented by using the Mimics and Simplant Ortho software programs (both, Materialise, Leuven, Belgium). Paired samples t tests were used to compare pretreatment and posttreatment nasal cavity volumes and maxillary areas. Data analysis was performed by using the software program SPSS for Windows (version 15.00; SPSS, Chicago, Ill). Results Rapid maxillary expansion treatment induced significant increases in nasal cavity volume ( P  ≤0.001) and maxillary transverse dimensions ( P  ≤0.001). Conclusions Both anterior-to-posterior and coronal-to-cranial expansions were observed after rapid maxillary expansion treatment, with the direction of expansion most likely affected by resistance from the cranial bones.