Abstract

Rapid Maxillary Expansion in Growing Patients

by Quinzi Vincenzo and Memè Lucia

Transverse discrepancy of the maxilla, is one of the most frequent anomalies of orthodontic interest to observe. It is often associated with mono or bilateral posterior crossbite and sometimes it is complicated by the presence of other problems: dental crowding, dental asymmetries, postural and/or basal asymmetries, and the presence of dysfunctional habits. Despite the vast consensus on the opportunity to correct posterior crossbites early, the controversy on which is the optimal therapeutic approach, and the ideal timing is still on. In fact, there are many opinions, sometimes confused and conflicting with each other. In other words, palatal expansion, one of the most widespread therapeutic procedures, is probably still today a procedure often abused and performed incorrectly but above all, still to be defined in terms of methods, timing, and indications. The most frequent errors concern: the quantification of the correction of the transversal discrepancy, the timing; the choice of the anchor and the appliances used, the difficulty in measuring out the expansion, the obtaining of limited or unstable results; the fear of an excessive orthopedic effect in young patients; the dental-alveolar compensation (buccal inclination of the first upper permanent molars); dental-periodontal damage affecting the first permanent molars: external root resorption and/or loss of periodontal attachment (especially when fixed appliances and heavy forces are used). The report will focus attention on every single point, looking at the most recent scientific research, with the presentation of an ample clinical case report.

Learning Objectives

After this lecture, you will be able to define when a growing patient needs maxillary expansion
After this lecture, you will be able to define the treatment timing for maxillary expansion
After this lecture, you will be able to understand the methods of maxillary expansion, the anchor teeth and the appliances used