Thin-plate spline analysis of the short- and long-term effects of rapid maxillary expansion

Authors: Franchi L.¹; Baccetti T.¹; Cameron C.G.²; Kutcipal E.A.²; McNamara Jr J.A.²

Source: European Journal of Orthodontics, Volume 24, Number 2, April 2002 , pp. 143-150(8)

Buy & download fulltext article:

Price: $35.78 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

The aim of this study was to investigate the short- and long-term effects induced by rapid maxillary expansion (RME) on the shape of the maxillary and circummaxillary structures by means of thin-plate spline (TPS) analysis. The sample consisted of 42 patients who were compared with a control sample of 20 subjects. The treated subjects underwent Haas-type RME, followed by fixed appliance therapy. Postero-anterior (PA) cephalograms were analysed for each treated subject at T<inf>1</inf> (pre-treatment), T<inf>2</inf> (immediate post-expansion), and T<inf>3</inf> (long-term observation), and were available at T<inf>1</inf> and T<inf>3</inf> for the control group (CG). The mean age at T<inf>1</inf> was 11 years and 10 months for both groups. The mean chronological ages at T<inf>3</inf> were 20 years, 6 months for the treated group (TG) and 17 years, 8 months for the control group. The study focused on shape changes in the maxillary, nasal, zygomatic, and orbital regions.

TPS analysis revealed significant shape changes in the TG. They consisted of an upward and lateral displacement of the two halves of the naso-maxillary complex as a result of active expansion in the short-term, and normalization of maxillary shape in the transverse dimension in the long-term (the initial transverse deficiency of the maxilla in the treated group was eliminated by RME therapy both in the short- and long-term). At the end of the observation period, the nasal cavities were larger when compared with both their pre-expansion configuration and the final configuration in the controls. RME with the Haas appliance appears to be an efficient therapeutic means to induce permanent favourable changes in the shape of the naso-maxillary complex.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ejo/24.2.143

Affiliations: 1: Department of Orthodontics, University of Florence, Italy 2: Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA

Publication date: 2002-04-01

More about this publication?

One of the leading periodicals in its field, The European Journal of Orthodontics publishes scientific papers aimed at all orthodontists. The journal provides a forum for orthodontists in Europe where many developments are taking place, but also accepts papers from all parts of the world.

Thin-plate spline analysis of the short- and long-term effects of rapid maxillary expansion

Buy & download fulltext article:

Tools

Key

Text size:

Useful pages