Volumetric changes of the nose and nasal airway 2 years after tooth-borne and bone-borne surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion

Eur J Oral Sci. 2013 Oct;121(5):450-6. doi: 10.1111/eos.12068. Epub 2013 Jul 8.

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the effects of bone-borne and tooth-borne surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion on the volumes of the nose and nasal airway 2 yr after maxillary expansion. This prospective cohort study included 32 patients with transverse maxillary hypoplasia. Expansion was performed with a tooth-borne distractor (Hyrax) in 19 patients and with a bone-borne distractor [transpalatal distractor (TPD)] in the remaining 13. Cone beam computed tomography scans and three-dimensional (3D) photographs of the face were acquired before treatment and 22 ± 7 months later, and were used to evaluate the volumes of the nose and nasal airway. Nasal volume increased by 1.01 ± 1.6% in the Hyrax group and by 2.39 ± 2.4% in the TPD group. Nasal airway volume increased by 9.7 ± 5.6% in the Hyrax group and by 12.9 ± 12.7% in the TPD group. Changes in the nasal volume and in the nasal airway volume between the pre- and post-treatment measurements were statistically significant, whereas differences between the treatment groups were not; 22 months after surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion, the increases in the nasal volume and in the nasal airway volume were comparable between tooth-borne and bone-borne devices.

Keywords: cone beam computed tomography; distraction osteogenesis; nasal airway; palatal expansion technique; three-dimensional stereophotogrammetry.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cephalometry
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cone-Beam Computed Tomography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional
  • Male
  • Malocclusion / therapy*
  • Maxilla / abnormalities*
  • Maxilla / diagnostic imaging
  • Maxilla / surgery
  • Nose / anatomy & histology*
  • Nose / diagnostic imaging
  • Osteogenesis, Distraction / methods*
  • Palatal Expansion Technique / instrumentation*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Tooth / diagnostic imaging*