The effects of rapid maxillary expansion on the nasal patency assessed by rhinomanometry and acoustic rhinometry

Bruno Alberto VIDOTTI, Inge Elly Kiemle TRINDADE

The aim of this review was to analyze the indings reported in the literature about the effects of rapid maxillary expansion (RME) on nasal patency assessed by rhinomanometry, which measures the resistance offered by the nasal cavity to airlow, and acoustic rhinometry, which measures sectional areas and volumes of different segments of the nasal cavity. Studies using rhinomanometry have demonstrated a signiicant decrease of nasal resistance after RME on a signiicant number of patients, and also an increase in minimal nasal cross-sectional area. Studies using acoustic rhinometry have additionally shown a signiicant increase of anterior nasal volume. However, it is a consensus that RME is not justiied only for the purpose of inducing a nasal pattern of breathing in oral breathers, despite the improvement of nasal patency caused by RME.

Keywords: Palatal expansion technique. Acoustic rhinometry. Rhinomanometry.

Thursday, April 25, 2024 02:59