The effects of rapid maxillary expansion on voice function

Angle Orthod. 2017 Jan;87(1):49-55. doi: 10.2319/010416-008.1. Epub 2016 Jul 27.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effects of rapid maxillary expansion (RME) on vocal function in patients with bilateral maxillary crossbite.

Materials and methods: We designed our research as a prospective, controlled, clinical study. The treatment group and the control group each had 20 subjects for a total of 40 subjects. Acoustic voice samples were recorded from all patients at T1 and T2 by the Multi-Dimensional Voice Program (MDVP Model 5105) for acoustic analysis in Computerized Speech Lab (CSL).

Results: No statistically significant differences were found between the treatment and control groups in the means of any parameters.

Conclusions: RME does not change vocal quality or resonance, so it can be safely used with patients.

Keywords: Rapid maxillary expansion; Voice function.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Malocclusion / therapy
  • Maxilla / diagnostic imaging
  • Orthodontic Appliance Design / instrumentation
  • Orthodontic Appliance Design / methods
  • Orthodontic Appliances
  • Palatal Expansion Technique / adverse effects*
  • Phonation
  • Prospective Studies
  • Resonance Frequency Analysis / methods
  • Resonance Frequency Analysis / statistics & numerical data
  • Sound Spectrography / methods
  • Speech*
  • Voice Quality*