Hoshang Rumi Sukhia, Rashna H Sukhia, Sarosh Mahdi.
Rapid Palatal Expansion: Effect of Age & Malocclusion on Orthodontic Treatment.
J Pak Dent Assoc Jan ;22(3):193-9.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate transverse and sagittal dental effects of rapid palatal expansion in different age groups and malocclusions. METHODOLOGY: A total of 46 patients were selected for rapid palatal expansion (RPE). The inter-canine (CC) and inter-Molar (MM) width were measured in millimeters pre- and post-treatment on study models. Furthermore, the maxillary arch depth line (MADL) was also measured on the study casts. RESULT: There were 22 males and 24 females in this study undergoing rapid palatal expansion (RPE) with a mean age of 13.2 years. The patients were divided into 4 age groups namely A (9-10 years), B (11-12 years), C (12-13 years) and D (14-15 years) respectively. In our study sample 15 patients had skeletal class I, 11 had skeletal class II and 20 had skeletal class III malocclusions, respectively, as confirmed by the patients pre-treatment cephalometric radiograph measurement. Females showed a mean percentage MM value of 52.6% post treatment while males showed a mean percentage MM value of 46.8% respectively. Both sexes reported decreasing MADL values with age with Group D (14-15 years) showing 16.7% in males and 15.7% in females. Males in class I and class III malocclusion showed the highest RPE post treatment mean MM values of 51.7% and 46.2%, while females demonstrated 44.2% in class one and 48.2% mean MM values in class II malocclusions. CONCLUSION: Both sexes showed CC and MM changes after expansion, however females showed less MADL changes post-treatment. Furthermore, MADL values decreased with age in both males and females. RPE in class I and class II cases showed greater MM changes in males, while in females class I and class III malocclusions showed more changes followed by class II malocclusions. Further studies are necessary to determine long-term stability of dental changes post-retention.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com