Three-dimensional analyses of palatal morphology and its relation to upper airway area in obstructive sleep apnea

Objective:To evaluate the relationship between palatal morphology and pharyngeal airway morphology in patients who have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and compare with a nonsnoring and nonapneic control group.Materials and Methods:Three-dimensional maxillary dental cast measurements from 25 OSA patients (6 women, 19 men) with a mean age of 41.5 (4.8) years, and 25 control group participants (14 women, 11 men) without any symptom of OSA with a mean age of 38.3 (3.7) were correlated with an analysis of pharyngeal area evaluated with lateral cephalograms. Intermolar and intercanine widths and palatal volumes were calculated on the dental casts, and the upper airway area measurements were performed on lateral cephalograms.Results:OSA patients had smaller oropharyngeal volume and upper airway when compared with controls (P < .001). Palatal area measurements were significantly smaller in OSA (P < .001). OSA patients had significantly narrower maxilla with smaller intermolar and intercanine widths (P < .001). A positive correlation was found between the palatal morphology and pharyngeal dimensions.Conclusions:A significant correlation exists between palatal morphology and pharyngeal airway.     

Is there a relationship between dental crowding and the size of the maxillary or mandibular apical base?

Objective:To determine whether apical base size is related to dental crowding.Materials and Methods:Digital scans of dental casts were taken of 75 untreated Class I adults to measure maxillary and mandibular tooth size, dental arch perimeters, intermolar widths, and intercanine widths. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images were used to measure the apical base of the maxilla and mandible, including the total cross-sectional area, five basal arch perimeters and five basal arch widths. Principal components factor analyses were performed to evaluate the relationships between the apical base size and tooth-size-arch-length discrepancies (TSALD).Results:The dental arch and maxillary apical base measures were significantly larger in males than females. There were only limited sex differences in mandibular apical base size. The dental arch measurements were smaller in subjects with greater upper and lower TSALD. Maxillary and mandibular apical base dimensions were positively interrelated. Low-to-moderate correlations were found between the size of the maxillary apical base and TSALD. The size of the mandibular apical base was not related to upper or lower TSALD. Tooth size showed little to no relationship with TSALD.Conclusions:Although maxillary apical base size is related to maxillary and mandibular crowding in subjects with Class I malocclusion, mandibular apical base size is not.     

Transverse dimensions of dental arches in subjects with Class II malocclusion in the early mixed dentition

Objective

The purpose of this study was to analyze the transverse dentoalveolar features of subjects with Class II Division 1 malocclusion in mixed dentition when compared to subjects with normal occlusion.

Materials and methods

The study was performed on 192 randomly selected subjects in the early mixed dentition. According to sagittal skeletal and occlusal features the sample was divided into two groups: 88 subjects (53 females and 35 males) with Class II skeletal disharmony and Class II, division 1 malocclusion (Class II Group, mean age 8 years and 10 months ± 11 months) and 104 subjects (66 females e 38 males) with dentoskeletal Class I relationships (Class I Group, mean age 9 ± 1 years). The Class II group was further divided into two subgroups (maxillary protrusion group and mandibular retrusion group) on the basis of the skeletal characteristics. Intermolar and intercanine distances were measured on dental casts in both arches and posterior and anterior transversal discrepancy (PTID and ATID) were calculated.

Results

Subjects with Class II malocclusion showed a significantly greater negative PTID (−2.1 mm) which was associated with a significantly reduced maxillary width with respect to the Class I group (−2.2 mm). The Class II group showed also a significantly greater negative ATID (−1.4 mm) when compared to the Class I group. Subjects with mandibular retrusion showed a significantly greater reduction both in the maxillary intercanine width (−1.7 mm). and in the maxillary intermolar width (−2.7 mm) with respect to the Class I group. Subjects with maxillary protrusion presented with a significantly greater constriction at the maxillary intermolar width (−1.7 mm) when compared to the Class I group.

Conclusions

Class II malocclusion with mandibular retrusion is associated with a significant constriction of the maxillary arch with reduced intercanine and intermolar widths. When Class II malocclusion is due to a maxillary protrusion the constriction at the maxillary arch is limited to the intermolar width.     

Dental Arch and Cephalometric Changes Following Treatment for Class III Malocclusion by Means of the Function Regulator (FR-3) Appliance

AIM: The aim of this retrospective clinical study was to evaluate dental arch, skeletal, dentoalveolar, and soft tissue profile changes following treatment of Class III malocclusion by means of the Function Regulator (FR-3) appliance. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study sample consisted of 14 growing patients (seven boys and seven girls) with a mean age of 9.7 +/- 1.1 years presenting Class III malocclusion. They were treated with an FR-3 appliance exclusively for a period of 2.4 +/- 0.6 years. Dental casts and lateral cephalometric radiographs were obtained immediately before initiation and after completion of treatment with the FR-3 appliance. Thirteen variables were used for the dental cast analysis and 61 variables for the cephalometric analysis. The paired t-test was utilized to evaluate the presence of significant changes (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The evaluation of the dental casts revealed that there was a significant increase in intermolar, interpremolar, and intercanine width of the maxilla and of palatal height after treatment. Concerning the mandible, an increase in intermolar and intercanine width and a decrease in lower arch depth were observed. Cephalometric evaluation revealed a significant decrease in SNB angle and an increase in ANB angle, overjet, facial convexity, nose prominence, and lower soft tissue face height. There was an increase in upper lip thickness and a decrease in lower lip convexity observed after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study confirm a favorable functional and esthetic maxillary and mandibular position following treatment by means of the function regulator (FR-3) appliance.     

Spontaneous mandibular arch response after rapid palatal expansion: a long-term study on Class I malocclusion.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the spontaneous mandibular arch response to rapid palatal expansion as the sole orthodontic intervention. Particular attention was paid to clinically significant effects and long-term (mean age, 11.3 years) posttreatment stability in 30 Class I malocclusion patients treated during the early and mid mixed dentition. Measurements were made directly on 120 dental casts obtained at 4 assessment stages: pre-expansion (A1), short-term follow-up (A2), progress (A3), and long-term follow up (A4). Comparisons between A1 and A2 showed statistically significant (P < .001) increases for intermolar widths (lingual and occlusal values). During the transition to the permanent dentition, a significant (P < .001) decrease occurred in arch length and arch perimeter. There was a 25% intermolar width (occlusal value) decrease from the initial net gain, whereas the lingual values remained unchanged. Comparisons between A2 and A4 showed an intermolar width (occlusal value) net gain of 50% and a significant (P < .001) decrease for the arch length and arch perimeter. There was remarkable stability in intermolar width (lingual value) and intercanine width (occlusal value), indicating that the increase in the mandibular arch width dimension was in response to the orthopedic effects of rapid palatal expansion in the early and mid-mixed dentition and that the stability was maintained until adulthood.     

Dental and alveolar arch widths in normal occlusion and Class III malocclusion

The aim of this study was to compare the transverse dimensions of the dental arches and alveolar widths of Class III malocclusion group with a group of untreated normal occlusion subjects. This study was performed using measurements on dental casts of 150 normal occlusion (mean age, 21.6 +/- 2.6 years) and 100 Class III malocclusion (mean age, 15.4 +/- 2.2 years) subjects. Independent samples t-test was applied for comparing the groups. The findings of this study indicated that the mandibular intercanine and intermolar alveolar widths were significantly larger in the Class Ill group when compared with the normal occlusion sample (P < .001). Maxillary interpremolar, intermolar widths and all maxillary alveolar width measurements were significantly narrower in the Class III group (P < .001). In addition, the lower canine and premolar alveolar width measurements were also statistically significantly larger in the normal occlusion group when compared with the Class III malocclusion group (P < .001). Subjects with Class III malocclusion tend to have the maxillary teeth inclined to the lingual and mandibular teeth inclined to the buccal direction because of the restriction of maxillary growth and development according to dental arch width measurements. Therefore, rapid maxillary expansion should be considered before or during the treatment of a Class III patient with or without face-mask therapy.     

骨性Ⅱ类错牙合下颌牙弓与基骨形态相关性的三维测量研究

目的 用三维数字化模型测量的方法探讨骨性Ⅱ类错牙合畸形患者的下颌牙弓弓形与基骨弓形间的相互关系。方法 对35例骨性Ⅱ类错牙合畸形患者治疗前下颌模型进行扫描,获得三维数字模型,对右侧第一磨牙至左侧第一磨牙的FA点（代表牙弓）、WALA点（代表基骨）进行标定并映射到参考平面得到FA和WALA的映射点,分析其牙弓弓形与基骨弓形及其相关性,并对牙弓和基骨弓形进行曲线拟合。结果 骨性Ⅱ类的下颌牙弓弓形曲线与基骨弓形曲线相关度在尖牙区为0.534,磨牙区为0.873。牙弓与基骨尖牙间宽度的差异无统计学意义（P=0.481）,而牙弓与基骨磨牙间宽度的差异具有统计学意义（P<0.01）。牙弓弓形拟合曲线的曲率半径r为15.194,回归系数R2为0.912;基骨弓形拟合曲线的r为20.250,R2为0.947。结论 骨性Ⅱ类错牙合畸形患者下颌牙弓弓形与对应的基骨弓形在磨牙区高度相关,在尖牙区中度相关;基骨尖牙间宽度与牙弓尖牙间宽度无明显差异,基骨磨牙间宽度则明显大于牙弓磨牙间宽度。     

Dental archforms in dentoalveolar Class I,II and III

Objective:To test the hypothesis that no differences exist in dental arch dimensions between dentoalveolar Classes I, II, and III, and between male and female subjects, as measured on virtual three-dimensional (3D) models.Materials and Methods:Samples included randomly selected plaster dental casts of 137 white patients (43 Class I, 50 Class II, and 44 Class III) from the Department of Orthodontics, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia. Dental models were scanned and digitized using ATOS II SO (“Small Objects”) scanning technology (GOM mbH, Braunschweig, Germany). Eight linear and two proportional measurements were calculated for both upper and lower dental arches.Results:In men, a significant difference in the upper dental arch was present in the incisor region, and in the lower dental arch, differences were found in intercanine and intermolar widths (P < .05). Significant differences were noted between male groups in the upper molar depth dimension (P  =  .022) and in the lower molar and canine depth dimensions (P < .05). Class III males had the greatest lower molar and canine width/depth ratios and the smallest lower canine depth/molar depth ratio. Class III women had wider and shorter mandibular arches when compared with Class I and Class II females.Conclusion:The hypothesis was rejected. The dimensions of the dental arches are related to gender and to dentoalveolar class. Class I and II subjects have similar dimensions of maxillary dental arch, but Class II subjects have a transverse deficit in the mandible. In Class III subjects, the maxillary dental arch is insufficient in transverse and sagittal dimensions, and the mandibular arch dominates in the transverse but not in the sagittal dimension.     

Twenty-year follow-up of functional treatment with a bionator appliance: A retrospective dental cast analysis

Objective:To investigate changes in dental arch configuration, relationship, and malocclusion directly after Class II malocclusion treatment with a Balters bionator modified by Ascher as well as 20 years after treatment.Materials and Methods:Orthodontic dental cast analysis of 18 patients with skeletal Class II treated with a bionator without any additional fixed therapy was performed with a digital caliper at three stages: before (T0), after (T1) and 20 years after (T2) treatment. Arch perimeter and depth, intermolar and intercanine distance, overjet, overbite, sagittal molar and canine relationship, mandibular incisor irregularity (Little''s index), and malocclusion (PAR index) were assessed.Results:During treatment (T0–T1), upper arch perimeter significantly increased with a significant decrease in the upper and lower arch perimeter long-term (T1–T2), whereas corresponding arch depths changed only slightly in both periods. Transverse intermolar width increased significantly during treatment, remaining almost constant from T1 to T2. Lower intercanine distance remained fairly unchanged during treatment, but decreased significantly during follow-up. Lower incisor irregularity improved slightly during treatment but increased significantly long-term. After treatment, sagittal molar relationships on both sides were improved, overjet and overbite reduced; these significant changes remained stable long-term. The peer assessment rating (PAR) index was significantly lower after treatment and increased insignificantly during follow-up.Conclusions:20 years after bionator treatment without additional fixed appliances, the improved sagittal relationship and the reduced overjet and PAR index remained fairly stable. Long-term changes are most likely due to physiological aging processes and are not associated with bionator treatment.     

欧米加阻挡曲扩弓法排齐和整平下颌拥挤牙列效果的临床研究

目的 评价下颌非拔牙病例中,澳丝弯制的欧米加阻挡曲扩弓法在传统直丝弓托槽上排齐和整平下颌拥挤牙列方面的临床效果。方法 选择58例正畸患者,年龄19~24岁,随机均分成2组,各29例,一组接受传统矫治方法,另一组采用欧米加阻挡曲扩弓法矫治。每种矫正方法又分为轻-中度拥挤（5 > Ⅱ > 2）和重度拥挤（Ⅱ > 5）两个亚组。下颌治疗结束时间以下牙弓完全排齐和整平为准。头颅侧位片评价下牙弓排齐和整平前后下切牙位置的变化;模型上测量下尖牙间距和下第一恒磨牙间距以反映牙弓宽度的变化。结果 2种排齐和整平的方法获得了相同程度的前牙区和后牙区扩弓量;就重度拥挤病例而言,欧米加阻挡曲扩弓法要明显快于传统方法（P=0.017）;结论 2种方法无论在切牙的唇向移动程度还是尖牙间距和磨牙间距的扩大情况等各方面几乎获得了同样的效果,对于严重拥挤的牙列,欧米加阻挡曲扩弓装置显示出更高的效率,是非常值得推荐的一种矫正方法。     

An assessment of conventional and self-ligating brackets in Class I maxillary constriction patients

Objective:To evaluate two different treatment systems with regard to incisor position, transverse dimension changes in maxillary arch, changes in maxillary molar inclinations, clinical periodontal parameters, and pain intensity in patients with a Class I malocclusion.Materials and Methods:Seventeen patients (with a mean age of 14.5 years) underwent orthodontic treatment with the Roth prescribed edgewise bracket systems after expanding the maxillary arch with a quad-helix appliance, and 16 patients (with a mean age of 14.8 years) underwent orthodontic treatment with the Damon 3MX bracket system. Each subject''s lateral cephalometric and posteroanterior radiographs and dental casts were obtained at the beginning of the treatment and after debonding. In addition to these, the periodontal index and pain scores were taken.Results:Cephalometric data showed that in both treatment systems, overjet value decreased and maxillary and mandibular incisors proclined. Posteroanterior measurements demonstrated a greater increase in the maxillary molar inclination in the Damon group. Significant increase of maxillary intercanine, interpremolar, and intermolar widths was shown in both systems. Periodontal index and pain score changes between different observation periods were the same.Conclusions:The conventional and Damon systems were found similar with regard to the incisor position, transverse dimension changes in maxillary arch, clinical periodontal parameters, and pain intensity. The only significant difference was that the Damon system inclined the maxillary molars more buccally than the conventional group.     

Short- and long-term evaluation of mandibular dental arch dimensional changes in patients treated with a lip bumper during mixed dentition followed by fixed appliances

Objective:To evaluate short- and long-term mandibular dental arch changes in patients treated with a lip bumper during the mixed dentition followed by fixed appliances, compared with a matched control sample.Materials and Methods:Dental casts and lateral cephalograms obtained from 31 consecutively treated patients before (T₀) and after (T₁) lip bumper, after fixed appliances (T₂), and a minimum of 3 years after fixed appliances (T₃) were analyzed. The control group was matched as closely as possible. Arch width, arch perimeter, arch length, and incisor proclination were evaluated. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze changes in measurements over all four time points between treatment and control groups.Results:Arch widths and crowding were always significantly different except at T₂−T₁. At T₁−T₀, only crowding decreased 3.2 mm while intercanine, interpremolar, and intermolar widths increased by 3.8, 3.3, and 3.9 mm, respectively. Changes at T₃−T₂ showed a significant decrease of 2.1 mm for crowding and an increase of 3.5, 2.9, 2.7, and 0.8 mm for intercanine, interpremolar, and intermolar widths and arch perimeter, respectively. Finally, at T₃−T₀, the reduction in crowding of 5.03 mm was significant and clinically important in the treated group. The differences between intercanine, interpremolar, and intermolar widths were also significant (2.1, 3.8, and 3.6 mm, respectively). All those differences favored the treated group.Conclusions:Mandibular dental arch dimensions were significantly changed after lip bumper treatment. At follow-up, all arch widths were slightly decreased, generating an increase of 0.4 mm in crowding, considered clinically irrelevant. Overall changes remained stable after an average 6.3-year follow-up.     

Protraction Archwire：effectively protruding incisors and alignment

目的：探讨唇倾排齐弓丝在临床治疗中唇倾并排齐下前牙的效率和效果。方法：临床筛选36例（19例女性,17例男性）适应病例,分为两组：唇倾弓丝组和镍钛丝排齐组。按照唇倾弓丝组的排齐时间计算,分阶段留取牙颌石膏模型,并拍摄术前术后头颅定位侧位片。分别测量石膏模型尖牙宽度,磨牙宽度和牙弓宽度。同时在侧位片上测量术前术后的下前牙与下颌平面的倾斜角度。以α=0.05为基准,采用Stata统计软件对上述测量数据进行显著性比较分析。结果：唇倾弓丝完成唇倾并排齐下前牙的时间显著性少于镍钛丝排齐组,唇倾弓丝的排齐效率为0.106 mm/d,镍钛丝的排齐效率为0.047 mm/d。模型测量和侧位片测量表明,唇倾弓丝对于尖牙宽度,磨牙宽度和牙弓宽度和下前牙与下颌平面夹角的改变较镍钛丝排齐更显著。结论：与镍钛丝排齐相比,唇倾弓丝唇倾并排齐下前牙的效率更好,临床操作更简便。     

Relapse tendency in maxillary arch width in unilateral cleft lip and palate patients with different maxillary arch forms.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the relapse tendency in the maxillary dental arch widths in unilateral cleft lip and palate patients with different types of maxillary arch form. SUBJECTS: Thirty-two unilateral cleft lip and palate patients treated by one-stage surgical palatal closure were included. The subjects were divided into three groups according to the types of the maxillary arch forms: group A, symmetrical arch form; group B, collapse of minor segment; group C, collapse of both segments. METHODS: Using dental casts obtained at three different times, relapse in the intercanine, interpremolar, and intermolar widths in each group was assessed and differences between groups were investigated. Results: Patients in group A showed stable results in all measurements. Patients in group B showed posttreatment relapse in the intercanine width only, whereas patients in group C demonstrated significant posttreatment relapses in the interpremolar and intermolar widths. Comparison between groups showed more significant relapse in the interpremolar and intermolar widths of group C than in those of group B. CONCLUSION: The types of the maxillary arch forms in unilateral cleft lip and palate patients might play a stronger role in the stability of the maxillary dental arch widths after orthodontic treatment in patients with collapse of both segments and a severe degree of maxillary narrowness.     

Dental arch dimensions in the mixed dentition: a study of Italian children born in the 1950s and the 1990s

The objective of this study was to compare the dental arch dimensions in the mixed dentition in two modern samples living in the same geographic area and separated by almost 35 years. A group of 83 subjects (39 boys and 44 girls) born between 1953 and 1959 (mean age: eight years and three months +/-15 months for the boys and seven years and 11 months +/-12 months for the girls) were compared with a group of 84 subjects (38 boys and 46 girls) born between 1990 and 1998 (mean age: eight years and eight months +/-12 months for the boys and eight years and four months +/-11 months for the girls). Measurements were taken on dental casts for posterior and anterior arch segments, intermolar and intercanine width, and mesiodistal size of incisors. The available anterior space in both arches and the posterior and anterior transverse dimensions were calculated. Groups were compared using a nonparametric test (Mann-Whitney U-test) for independent samples (P < .05). Results show that both boys and girls of 1990s showed significantly smaller maxillary intermolar width when compared with 1950s. Posterior transverse interarch discrepancy was significantly minor in girls of 1990s. The present population has a greater probability of developing a malocclusion as a consequence of the secular trend toward the reduction of the width of the upper arch.     

Maxillary anterior alignment stability in Class I and Class II malocclusions treated with or without extraction

Objective:To compare the postretention stability of maxillary incisors alignment in subjects with Class I and II malocclusion treated with or without extractions.Materials and Methods:The sample comprised 103 subjects with initial maxillary anterior irregularity greater than 3 mm and was divided into four groups: group 1 comprised 19 patients with Class I malocclusion treated with nonextraction (mean initial age = 13.06 years); group 2 comprised 19 patients with Class II malocclusion treated with nonextraction (mean initial age = 12.54 years); group 3 comprised 30 patients with Class I malocclusion treated with extractions (mean initial age = 13.16 years); group 4 comprised 35 patients with Class II malocclusion treated with extractions (mean initial age = 12.99 years). Dental casts were obtained at three different stages: pretreatment (T1), posttreatment (T2), and long-term posttreatment (T3). Maxillary incisor irregularity and arch dimensions were evaluated. Intergroup comparisons were performed by one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey tests.Results:In the long-term posttreatment period, relapse of maxillary crowding and arch dimensions was similar in all groups.Conclusion:Changes in maxillary anterior alignment in Class I and Class II malocclusions treated with nonextractions and with extractions were similar in the long-term posttreatment period.     

Arch width changes in extraction and nonextraction treatment in class I patients

The aim of this retrospective study was to examine the dental arch width changes of extraction and nonextraction treatment in Class I patients. The study was performed on pretreatment and posttreatment dental casts of 60 patients (30 extraction and 30 nonextraction). The mean ages were 14.3 +/- 2.02 years for the extraction group and 14.1 +/- 2.9 years for the nonextraction group. The maxillary and mandibular crowding was -6.7 +/- 3.1 and -6.3 +/- 2.8 mm for the extraction group and -4.5 +/- 3.6 and -2.1 +/- 3.5 mm for the nonextraction group, respectively. The intercanine and intermolar arch width measurements were measured using a digital caliper. Paired samples t-test was used to evaluate the treatment changes within each group. To compare the changes between groups, independent samples t-test was performed. At the start of treatment, the maxillary and the mandibular intercanine and intermolar widths of both groups did not differ statistically. At the end of treatment, maxillary and mandibular intercanine widths of both groups increased significantly. The mandibular intermolar width decreased significantly for the extraction group and the maxillary intermolar width increased significantly for the nonextraction group. The decrease in maxillary intermolar width for the extraction group and the increase in mandibular intermolar width for the nonextraction group were not significantly different. No differences were observed between the groups in maxillary and mandibular intercanine widths. Maxillary and mandibular intermolar width indicated a significantly larger value in the nonextraction group than that in the extraction group.     

Adult Class lll Treatment Using a J-Hook Headgear to the Mandibular Arch

Objective:To evaluate the treatment effects of high-pull J-hook headgear on the lower dental arch in nongrowing Class III patients.Materials and Methods:Fourteen nongrowing Class III patients having an Angle Class III malocclusion and ANB angle of less than 1.0 degree, were treated with high-pull J-hook headgear to the lower arch. Using lateral cephalograms and plaster models obtained before treatment (T1), after active treatment (T2), and after the retention period (T3), the treatment outcome was analyzed.Results:The incisal edge of the lower central incisor moved a mean of 1.2 mm to the lingual and 1.7 mm to the occlusal between T1 and T2. The axis of the lower incisor inclined 4.0° to the lingual. The lower first molar cusp moved 1.5 mm to the distal and the root apex moved 2.0 mm to the mesial. Molar angulations were tipped 9.8° to the distal. The occlusal plane showed 4.5° counterclockwise rotation. The mean intermolar width increased 1.5 mm on average. Comparison of the records between T2 and T3 showed minimal changes.Conclusions:Distal movement of the lower dental arch using J-hook headgear was clearly demonstrated, confirming that the application of high-pull J-hook headgear to the lower arch was effective for improvement of the Class III occlusion.     

Correlation between transverse expansion and increase in the upper arch perimeter after rapid maxillary expansion

The purpose of the present study was to assess the correlation between transverse expansion and the increase in upper arch perimeter, after maxillary expansion. Dental casts of eighteen patients were obtained before treatment and again five months after maxillary expansion. Measurements of intermolar width, intercanine width, arch length and arch perimeter were made with a digital caliper on photocopies taken from the dental casts. After assessment of the method error, a multiple regression model was developed following the identification of the best subset of variables. The resulting equation led to the conclusion that the increase in arch perimeter is approximately given by the addition of 0.54 times the intercanine expansion, and 0.87 times the arch length alteration.     

Long-Term Effects of Rapid Maxillary Expansion Followed by Fixed Appliances

Objective:To evaluate the long-term changes in maxillary arch widths, overjet, and overbite in patients who were treated with rapid maxillary expansion (RME) followed by edgewise appliances.Materials and Methods:The material for the study consisted of study casts taken from 41 patients (19 males, 22 females) on four different occasions (before treatment, T1; after RME, T2; after treatment, T3; and during follow-up period, T4). The upper intercanine, interpremolar, and intermolar widths and overjet and overbite were measured on each set of study casts. Mean age of the subjects was 13.2 ± 1.3 years (range, 11.2–16.9 years) at T1, 13.3 ± 1.3 years (range, 11.3–17 years) at T2, 15.5 ± 1.4 years (range, 13.1–18.8 years) at T3, and 20.4 ± 1.6 years (range, 17.9–24.8 years) at T4.Results:The net increase in intercanine width, interpremolar width, intermolar width, overjet, and overbite was 1.4 ± 2.4 mm, 4.6 ± 2.6 mm, 4.3 ± 2.5 mm, 0.1 ± 0.6 mm, and 0.2 ± 0.6 mm, respectively, and the relapse rates were 37% for intercanine width, 19% for interpremolar width, and 17% for intermolar width at the end of the follow-up period.Conclusions:A significant amount of relapse occurred in maxillary arch widths at the postretention assessment, the greatest being in intercanine width. RME significantly decreased overbite and increased overjet, and a statistically significant decrease was observed in both overbite and overjet at the postretention assessment.