English abstract

Objectives. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in maxillary width and upper airway spaces in young adults withmaxillary transverse deficiency (MTD) after surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion combined with surgically facilitated ortho- dontic therapy.Study Design. Twenty patients (11 males, 9 females; mean age 25.1 § 6.3 years) with maxillary transverse deficiency were recruited. An expander was placed on the premolars and first molars. Cone beam computed tomography was performed before treatment and after a 3-month retention period. Measurements were done on the basis of the cone beam computed tomography images by using Dolphin Imaging 3-D software. The paired sample t test was used for statistical analysis.Results. The intermolar width and the buccal tipping of the upper first molars exhibited significant increase (P < .001). The vol- ume and the minimum cross-sectional area (MCA) increased significantly (P < .05). The rightleft diameter of MCA increasedfrom 21.15 to 25.48 mm (P .05).Conclusions. Widening of transverse maxillary deficiency after surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion with surgically facili- tated orthodontic therapy improves upper airway spaces in young adults. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol2019;127:381386)