Morphological analysis of the maxillary arch in patients with cleft lip and palate submitted to different protocols of rapid maxillary expansion: Maxillary alterations evaluation

Maíra Massuia de SOUZA, Luciane Macedo de MENEZES, Susana Maria Deon RIZZATTO, Gustavo da Luz VIEIRA, Ricardo Damo MENEGUZZI

Introduction: Harmonious conformation of the maxillary arch in patients with cleft lip and palate is one of the main requirements for achievement of adequate occlusion and for esthetic and functional improvement. For this purpose, orthopedic maxillary expansion is often required due to the high frequency of the segments collapse. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the transverse dimensions of maxillary dental arches by analysis of the dental casts of 15 patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate who presented sagittal and transverse maxillary constriction and were submitted to two distinct protocols of rapid maxillary expansion. Methods: Seven patients were submitted to rapid maxillary expansion (RME) by the conventional activation protocol (Group 1), and the others were treated by the protocol proposed by Liou and Tsai in 2005, with alternated expansion and constriction (Group 2). Both groups were later submitted to maxillary protraction with facial mask. Dental casts were obtained at two periods: before placement of a modifi ed Haas expander (T1) and after 24 weeks of treatment (T2). Transverse distances were measured with a digital caliper to register the distances between first upper premolars (anterior area) and fi rst upper molars (posterior area). Data were statistically analyzed by the Student´s t test. Results and Conclusion: Both protocols were equally effective, since no differences were observed between the groups as to the transverse increasing achieved.

Keywords: Maxillary expansion. Interbicuspids width. Intermolars width. Cleft lip and palate.

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