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. 2020 May;25(3):39-45.
doi: 10.1590/2177-6709.25.3.039-045.oar. Epub 2020 Aug 19.

Effect of rapid maxillary expansion on nasal cavity assessed with cone-beam computed tomography

Luciana Duarte Caldas  1 , Wilton M Takeshita  2 , André Wilson Machado  3 , Marcos Alan Vieira Bittencourt  3
Affiliations

Effect of rapid maxillary expansion on nasal cavity assessed with cone-beam computed tomography

Luciana Duarte Caldas et al. Dental Press J Orthod. 2020 May.

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Introduction: Rapid maxillary expansion (RME) is assumed as a well established procedure; although, some effects on facial complex are not yet fully understood.

Objective: The aim of this research was to verify, using cone-beam computed tomography, the effect on linear dimensions of the nasal cavity.

Methods: Sample consisted of twenty patients aged 7 to 16 years, with skeletal deformity that justified the use of CT scans, and who required the RME as part of the orthodontic treatment planning. Scans were taken before clinical procedures were performed (T0) and after stabilizing the expander screw (T1). Dolphin Imaging v. 11.5 3D software was used to measure six areas on nasal cavity: three at the anterior portion (upper, middle, and lower) and other three at the posterior portion (also upper, middle, and lower). Data were statistically treated using Shapiro-Wilk test to verify normality. Differences between T0 and T1 were calculated using the Spearman correlation and paired Student's t-test, with a significance level of 5%.

Results: All linear measurements presented a significant increase (p< 0.05) after RME, both in the anterior and posterior regions, suggesting some parallelism on the opening pattern, especially at the lower portion (p< 0.001).

Conclusions: RME was able to significantly modify the internal dimensions of the nasal cavity.

Introdução:: A expansão rápida da maxila (ERM) é um procedimento bem estabelecido. Entretanto, alguns efeitos no complexo facial ainda não foram completamente compreendidos.

Objetivo:: O objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar o efeito da ERM nas medidas lineares da cavidade nasal, utilizando a tomografia computadorizada de feixe cônico (TCFC).

Métodos:: A amostra foi composta por 20 pacientes da Universidade Federal da Bahia, com idades entre 7 e 16 anos, com deformidades esqueléticas que justificavam o uso da TCFC e que necessitavam da ERM como parte do tratamento ortodôntico. As imagens tomográficas foram realizadas antes dos procedimentos clínicos (T0) e após estabilização do parafuso expansor (T1). O software Dolphin Imaging v. 11.5 3D (Dolphin, Chatsworth, CA, EUA) foi utilizado para mensurar seis áreas na cavidade nasal, três delas na região anterior (superior, média e inferior) e outras três na região posterior (também superior, média e inferior). Os dados foram trabalhados estatisticamente, utilizando o teste de Shapiro-Wilk para avaliar a normalidade. Diferenças entre T0 e T1 foram calculadas usando a Correlação de Spearman e o teste t de Student pareado, usando um nível de significância de 5%.

Resultados:: Todas as mensurações lineares apresentaram um aumento significativo (p< 0,05) após a ERM, tanto na região anterior quanto na posterior, sugerindo algum paralelismo no padrão de abertura, principalmente na porção inferior (p< 0,001).

Conclusão:: A ERM foi capaz de modificar significativamente as dimensões internas da cavidade nasal.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no commercial, proprietary or financial interest in the products or companies described in this article.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Standardization of positioning of the digital image of the head, in sagittal and coronal sections, using the Dolphin Imaging software v. 11.5 Premium.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Determination of linear limits of the nasal cavity, in superior, middle and inferior portions, on coronal sections of (A) anterior and (B) posterior regions.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Representation of the opening pattern of anterior and posterior regions, and superior, middle and inferior portions, of the nasal cavity after RME.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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