ISSN: 2320-5407 Int. J. Adv. Res.

9(05), 497-500

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Article DOI: 10.21474/IJAR01/12864

DOI URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/12864

RESEARCH ARTICLE
MODERN PERSPECTIVES ON RAPID PALATAL EXPANSION

Kinnari Markana
BDS, Private Dental Practitioner, Gujarat.
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Manuscript Info Abstract
……………………. ………………………………………………………………
Manuscript History Maxillary deficiency in the transverse dimension is a common problem
Received: 15 March 2021 in children. The conventional management of such malocclusion is
Final Accepted: 19 April 2021 with conventional rapid maxillary expansion. The beneficial effects of
Published: May 2021 such an orthodontic therapy are explained in detail in the literature. But
there are also negative effects of conventional rapid maxillary
Key words:-
Conventional Rapid Maxillary expansion. Thus, the improvements in the methods of expansion has
Expansion, Miniscrew Assisted Rapid led to discovery of miniscrew assisted rapid palatal expansion. The
Palatal Expansion, Mini Implants, Bone miniscrew assisted rapid palatal expansion are supported by mini
Anchorage
implants and thus enable better skeletal expansion of maxilla. This
article will discuss the favourable effects, negative effects, and clinical
uses of conventional and miniscrew assisted rapid palatal expansion.

Copy Right, IJAR, 2021,. All rights reserved.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………....
Introduction:-
Malocclusion in the transverse dimension is common in clinical practice. (Angell, 1860) Frequently, interceptive
orthodontic treatment is required for such patients. The treatment is centered on the concept of forcing the two
maxillary halves apart from each other. This is possible because of the inter-maxillary palatal suture present between
the two maxillary halves.(Baydas et al., 2006) Maxillary expansion when introduced to orthodontic community was
not accepted readily. It was only after 1960s when Hass et al. showed positive results in a series of cases with
maxillary expansion, that it began to be accepted in the orthodontic community. (Bell 1982)

Conventional method of rapid maxillary expansion is undertaken in growing orthodontic population before the age
of 12 years. In such patients, the expansion appliances are supported by the dentition (Either 2 or 4 teeth with bands)
and there is a central activator which is opened 2 times a day or 0.5mm/day.(Bishara et al., 1987) Several studies
have evaluated the effects of rapid maxillary expansion such as the skeletal effects, alveolar effects, and the
periodontal effects. It is shown that although the rapid maxillary expansion is advantageous, it also has many
disadvantages. These disadvantages has prompted further research-studies, and innovation in this field.

Mini-implants were introduced to orthodontic field more than 20 years ago. The introduction of mini-implants has
enabled more sophisticated orthopedic and orthodontic approaches to manage complex malocclusions.(Darque et al.,
2007) This is useful particularly in instances where the conventional approaches fail to provide adequate results.
Therefore, mini-implants became the top choice for orthodontists for the management of malocclusions in the
transverse plane to counter the disadvantageous effects of conventional rapid maxillary expansion and attain
outcomes beyond the limit of conventional expansion. With the advances in the appliances, there are also advances
in the bonding agents used to hold the appliance in place for expansion such as cyanoacrylate adhesives.(Mehta et
al., 2016) As these bonding agents are not affected by the presence of moisture, there are less failures of expansion
appliances. The objective of this article is to provide an overview of the value that mini-implants have brought to the

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Corresponding Author:- Kinnari Markana
Address:- “Krushna Kutir”, Arya Samaj Road, Madhav Baugh Society, Jamnagar- 361005.
ISSN: 2320-5407 Int. J. Adv. Res. 9(05), 497-500

orthodontic field and the importance of mini-implants in rapid maxillary expansion (mini-screw assisted rapid
palatal expansion (MARPE).(Carlson et al., 2016)

Favorable effects of rapid maxillary expansion:-

Skeletal
The main desired effect of rapid maxillary expansion is the skeletal effect. The skeletal effects of maxillary
expansion occur due to the two halves of maxilla separating at the inter-maxillary suture and median palatal suture
in the shape of a triangle.(Mehta et al., 2021) The apex of the triangle is at the posterior region and superior region
due to the increased resistance of the bone at the pterygo-maxillary suture.(Bishara et al., 1987) It has been shown
by Lagravere et al. that a minimal amount of the expansion achieved with conventional rapid maxillary expansion is
skeletal with only 1/4th of expansion being skeletal and 3/4th being dento-alveolar.(Lagravere et al., 2005) Thus, it is
been a desire of the orthodontists to find methods to increase the skeletal effects of expansion. Miniscrew assisted
rapid palatal expansion has thus been shown to lead to increased skeletal expansion than conventional rapid palatal
expansion after 6 months. In the long follow up of 2.5 years, Mehta et al. showed that miniscrew assisted rapid
palatal expansion and conventional rapid palatal expansion both can increase skeletal maxillary width compared to
controls.(Mehta et al., 2021)

Dental
A significant increase is observed with rapid maxillary expansion as highlighted in the systematic review and meta-
analysis in 2006 by Lagravère et al.(Lagravere et al., 2006) There is increase in the transverse distance between the
maxillary first molars with rapid maxillary expansion. The increase in the distance is higher at the crown level as
compared to the root level. Miniimplants have been used for long in orthodontic population for intrusion of teeth,
extrusion of teeth and distalization of teeth.(Chang et al., 2019; Proffit et al., 2013) miniimplants are now also used
for maxillary expansion. Rapid maxillary expansion when performed with miniscrews or mini implants can lead to
increased maxillary expansion than controls.(Abu Arqub et al., 2021; Chane-Fane et al., 2015) Transverse
movement of the teeth can be achieved on only one side with unilateral miniscrew assisted rapid palatal
expansion.(Dzingle et al., 2020) It has been reported that the expansion achieved with arch-wires is mainly dental
and the expansion achieved with aligners is similar to that by arch-wires.(Zhou et al., 2020; Mehta et al., 2014)
Meaning that to achieve more skeletal expansion, miniscrew assisted rapid palatal expansion may be required.

Soft tissues
A high number of studies have been published with regards to the effects of rapid maxillary expansion but very few
have studied the effect of rapid maxillary expansion on soft tissues. Johnson et al. showed in 2010 that rapid
maxillary expansion causes a higher width of inter-alar distance in growing orthodontic population.(Johnson et al.,
2010) This finding is correlated to the higher sizes of the nasal fossa.(Johnson et al., 2010) These studies were not
performed on Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT). Mehta et al. have shown that CBCT can enable the
accurate measurement of the maxillary and mandibular teeth and bone.(Mehta et al., 2020) In addition to the skeletal
changes, CBCT has been repoted to be accurate for the measurements of dental structures as well.(Barreto et al.,
2020; Gandhi et al., 2021) It was reported by Kim et al. using CBCT that there is 1.8 mm increase in the interalar
distance and interorbital and infraorbital distance with expansion.(Kim et al., 2012) It is worthy to note that the nose
moves anteriorly with expansion and the subnasale also advances. It can be interpreted that these effects of rapid
maxillary expansion leads in growing orthodontic population can help in positive changes in maxillary volume.

Mandible
It has been shown by Ugolini et al. that rapid maxillary expansion produces effects not only on the maxilla but also
on the mandible.(Ugolini et al., 2016) In this study, the patients were in the age range of around 8.5 years. The
experimental group (with rapid maxillary expansion) was compared with a control group. A higher intermolar
distance and angle was reported in the experimental group as opposed to the control group. A few other studies have
shown similar results with rapid maxillary expansion causing positive effects on the arch-width of mandible.

Clinical uses of rapid maxillary expansion:-

Airway
Nasal cavity plays an important role to humidify and prepare the air traveling to the lungs. As the two halves of
maxilla participate in the structural construction of nasal cavity, it has been hypothesized since long that expansion
of maxilla would affect the nasal cavity.(Oliveira et al., 2008) It has been shown by De Felippe et al., that rapid
maxillary expansion cause an increase in the volume of nasal cavity.(Oliveira et al., 2008) Howevere De Felippe et

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al. did not measure the effects of miniscrew assisted rapid palatal expansion. Mehta et al. in 2021 showed that
miniscrew assisted rapid palatal expansion leads to an increased volume of the nasal cavity.(Mehta et al., 2021) In
this study, the patients from a randomized controlled trial were evaluated. The patients were randomly divided into
three groups: miniscrew assisted rapid palatal expansion, conventional rapid palatal expansion, and controls. This
study was the only study to report the long term findings of miniscrew assisted rapid palatal expansion on airway. It
was shown that miniscrew assisted rapid palatal expansion cause a higher nasopharyngeal airway volume compared
to conventional rapid palatal expansion and controls.

A high percentage of children are suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. About 4-11% of children in the United
States have OSA.(Marcus et al., 2012) In many cases, a tonsillectomy, and continuous airway positive pressure have
been implemented as a treatment for OSA in children. But frequently the disease would not be completely managed
by this therapy only. Several research studies have explored that rapid maxillary expansion would be beneficial to
patients with OSA. Specifically with miniscrew assisted rapid maxillary expansion, a higher nasopharyngeal airway
volume has been shown as compared to controls.(Mehta et al., 2021) A systematic review with meta-analysis
showed that there was a reduction in the apnea/hypopnea index in patients with OSA after maxillary
expansion.(Machado-Júnior et al., 2016)

Negative effects of rapid maxillary expansion:-

Periodontal effects
The decreased height of alveolar bone following rapid maxillary expansion is a major concern for rapid maxillary
expansion. It has been hypothesized that rapid maxillary expansion can lead to dehiscence because it is pushing the
teeth transversely. Garib et al. has showed that there is a higher incidence of dehiscence with convent ional rapid
maxillary expansion.(Garib et al., 2006) As miniscrew assisted rapid maxillary expansion does not apply forces
directly on teeth, it would have less unfavourable effects on alveolar bone than conventional rapid maxillary
expansion.

Conclusion:-
Rapid maxillary expansion is an established treatment modality for management of maxillary deficiency. But rapid
maxillary expansion also has some disadvantages. To improve the rapid maxillary expansion technique and
overcome such disadvantages, novel methods have been introduced to orthodontics. In this article, we discussed the
benefits and undesirable effects of conventional rapid maxillary expansion, and the latest method of miniscrew
assisted rapid palatal expansion.

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