Comparison of the effects of rapid maxillary expansion and surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion in the sagittal, vertical and transverse planes

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the effects of rapid maxillary expansion (RME) and surgically assisted RME (SARME) in the sagittal, vertical, and transverse planes. Study design: Orthodontic records of 28 patients were selected retrospectively and divided into two treatment groups. Group 1 comprised 14 patients (4 boys, 10 girls, mean age 14.2 ± 0.74 years) who had been treated with RME. Group 2 comprised 14 patients (4 boys, 10 girls, mean age 19.6 ± 2.73 years) who had been treated with SARME. Measurements were performed on lateral and posteroanterior cephalograms and dental casts obtained before (T0) and after (T1) expansion. Results: Statistically significant differences were found in soft tissue convexity angle, anterior face height, and upper nasal width in group 1, and in U1-NA length and posterior face height measurements in group 2 (P