Journal Article

Slow versus rapid maxillary expansion in bilateral cleft lip and palate: a CBCT randomized clinical trial

Lauris, José Roberto Pereira, de Almeida, Araci Malagodi, Garib, Daniela Gamba, Ozawa, Terumi Okada, Alves, Arthur César de Medeiros, Janson, Guilherme, Ioshida, Marilia Sayako Yatabe

2017

Overview

Objectives The purpose of this “two-arm parallel” trial was to compare the orthopedic, dental, and alveolar bone plate changes of slow (SME) and rapid (RME) maxillary expansions in patients with complete bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP). Material and methods Forty-six patients with BCLP and maxillary arch constriction in the late mixed dentition were randomly and equally allocated into two groups. Computer-generated randomization was used. Allocation was concealed with sequentially, numbered, sealed, opaque envelopes. The SME and RME groups comprised patients treated with quad-helix and Haas/Hyrax-type expanders, respectively. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) exams were performed before expansion and 4 to 6 months post-expansion. Nasal cavity width, maxillary width, alveolar crest width, arch width, palatal cleft width, inclination of posterior teeth, alveolar crest level, and buccal and lingual bone plate thickness were assessed. Blinding was applicable for outcome assessment only. Interphase and intergroup comparisons were performed using paired t tests and t tests, respectively ( p  < 0.05). Results SME and RME similarly promoted significant increase in all the maxillary transverse dimensions at molar and premolar regions with a decreasing expanding effect from the dental arch to the nasal cavity. Palatal cleft width had a significant increase in both groups. Significant buccal inclination of posterior teeth was only observed for RME. Additionally, both expansion procedures promoted a slight reduction of the alveolar crest level and the buccal bone plate thickness. Conclusions No difference was found between the orthopedic, dental, and alveolar bone plate changes of SME and RME in children with BCLP. Both appliances produced significant skeletal transverse gains with negligible periodontal bone changes. Treatment time for SME, however, was longer than the observed for RME. Clinical relevance SME and RME can be similarly indicated to correct maxillary arch constriction in patients with BCLP in the mixed dentition.

• Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Alveolar bone / Child / Children / Cleft Lip - diagnostic imaging / Cleft Lip - therapy / Cleft lip/palate / Cleft Palate - diagnostic imaging / Cleft Palate - therapy / Clinical trials / Computed tomography / Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Dentistry / Dentition / Envelopes / Female / Humans / Male / Maxilla / Medicine / Nose / Original Article / Palatal Expansion Technique - instrumentation / Periodontics / Teeth / Treatment Outcome