Class III malocclusion and bilateral cross-bite in an adult patient treated with miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expander and aligners

Abstract

This case report describes the use of a miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expander and aligners to correct bilateral cross-bite and crowding in an adult patient with a Class III skeletal pattern. A digitally designed surgical guide was three-dimensionally printed and used to accurately insert four miniscrews into the palate; these were employed to anchor a novel miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expander appliance without any dental anchorage. Cone-beam computed tomograms before and after miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expander treatment demonstrated the orthopedic expansion of the maxilla without dental tipping. The patient was then fitted with aligners to correct crowding and malocclusion. This case report demonstrates the successful treatment of an adult patient with a narrow maxilla and bilateral cross-bite using a nonsurgical, conservative treatment.