Maxillary Transverse Deficiency

This prospective, controlled observational study aims to evaluate three-dimensional (3D) facial soft tissue changes following miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE) and determine whether these changes are clinically perceptible to orthodontic specialists and patients. A total of 55 postpubertal participants aged 16-25 years will be included: 40 patients undergoing MARPE as part of their routine orthodontic treatment and 15 control participants who will not undergo maxillary expansion. Treatment decisions will be made independently of study participation. Facial soft tissue changes will be assessed using 3D facial scans. The MARPE group will be scanned before expansion (T0), immediately after active expansion (T1), and three months after expansion (T2). The control group will undergo two facial scans at comparable baseline and follow-up intervals. Changes in facial regions, including the nose, paranasal area, midface, and upper lip, will be evaluated. Blinded orthodontic specialists will assess the clinical perceptibility of changes using standardized facial images, while participants will provide their own perception of facial changes through questionnaires. When available from routine clinical records, skeletal and dental expansion measurements will also be analyzed in relation to the observed soft tissue changes. The study aims to clarify the magnitude, distribution, and clinical relevance of facial soft tissue changes associated with MARPE.

This randomized clinical trial will compare two types of expansion appliances used with surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME) in adults with a narrow upper jaw. SARME is a surgical and orthodontic treatment used to widen the upper jaw when orthodontic expansion alone is not sufficient. The study will investigate whether a tooth-borne appliance, which is supported by the teeth, and a hybrid appliance, which is supported by both the teeth and two small screws placed in the palate, produce different treatment outcomes. A total of 32 adults scheduled for SARME at Aalborg University Hospital in Denmark and Lund University Hospital in Sweden will be randomly assigned to treatment with either the tooth-borne appliance or the hybrid appliance. Participants will be examined before surgery, after completion of the expansion phase, and six months after completion of expansion. Assessments will include cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), digital dental scans, facial imaging, periodontal examinations, recording of complications, and questionnaires about pain, recovery, oral health-related quality of life, general quality of life, and treatment experience. The main outcome of the study is skeletal relapse, meaning how much of the widening of the upper jaw is lost between the end of expansion and the six-month follow-up. Other outcomes include the amount of skeletal and dental expansion, tooth tipping, changes in the supporting bone and gums around the teeth, facial soft-tissue changes, complications, recovery, and patient-reported quality of life. The study aims to determine whether one appliance provides better stability or fewer unwanted effects and thereby improve future treatment recommendations for adults undergoing SARME.

The aim of this prospective clinical study is to evaluate and compare the changes in occlusal force distribution using a quantitative digital occlusal analysis system following piezocision-assisted rapid maxillary expansion (RME) in adolescent versus young adult orthodontic patients. The study hypothesis is that piezocision-assisted RME will result in significant changes in occlusal force distribution and that these outcomes may differ between age groups over a 3-month follow-up period.

Maxillary transverse deficiency is an orthodontic anomaly characterized by the upper and lower dental arches being incompatible due to insufficient width of the maxilla. This condition typically manifests with clinical symptoms such as crossbite, crowding of teeth, and impaired respiratory function. Genetic factors, early primary tooth loss, mouth breathing, thumb sucking, and abnormal swallowing are among the causes of maxillary narrowing. Treatment options vary depending on the patient's age and the degree of suture closure. In pediatric and adolescent patients, rapid (RPE) or slow (SPE) orthodontic expansion can be achieved with palatal expansion appliances. However, in adult patients, due to the less flexible bone structure of the maxilla, methods such as surgically assisted expansion (SARME) or mini-screw-assisted expansion (MARPE) are preferred. Recent studies have shown that MARPE can be effective as a non-surgical alternative in young adults and can provide direct skeletal expansion without damaging the teeth.

This controlled prospective clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of different maxillary expansion methods in children with maxillary transverse deficiency. A total of 60 participants will be included: 20 patients will receive Invisalign Palatal Expander (IPE), 20 will receive acrylic cap splint Rapid Maxillary Expansion (RME), and 20 will serve as an untreated control group. Three-dimensional (3D) intraoral and extraoral scans will be taken at the end of expansion, at 3 months, and at 6 months. Primary outcomes include maxillary arch width, first molar angulation, palatal surface area, and palatal volume. Secondary outcomes include soft tissue changes in the facial region. This study provides a direct comparison between a traditional and a modern digital expansion method, generating evidence for clinical decision-making in pediatric orthodontics.