Soft Tissue Facial Changes in Patients 7-11 years of age having Maxillary Expansion

• Author / Creator

  Molla, Nafisa

• Introduction: Maxillary transverse discrepancies are typically treated with palatal expansion treatment modalities. In addition to skeletal and dental changes with maxillary segment width enhancement, maxillary expansion may also impact the facial soft tissues, and past studies have shown varied results. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of maxillary expansion on facial soft tissues in children aged 7-11 years, utilizing both CBCTs and 3D facial scans.

  Methods: Data was collected from 32 patients, consisting of two groups: control and treatment (Hyrax expansion via RME, 1 turn/day). The inclusion criteria were as follows: patients 7-11 years of age presenting with a maxillary transverse deficiency of at least 5mm or bilateral posterior crossbite. The exclusion criteria were as follows: patients with any previous history of craniofacial diseases or syndromes and any previous history of orthodontic therapy or maxillary expansion. Each patient in each group underwent CBCTs, 3D facial scans and hand-wrist radiographs at two time points: pre-treatment (T0, before maxillary expansion), after the completion of expansion at post-retention (T1, 12 months after). CBCTs were assessed using 3D Slicer software and 3D facial scans were assessed using OrthoInsight 3D software. The soft tissue measurements evaluated included the following: alar width, alar base width, mouth width, philtrum width, nasal tip prominence, nasolabial angle, upper lip to E-line, lower lip to E-line, upper lip height, height of vermillion of upper lip, lower lip height, height of nose, lower facial height and intercanthal width.

  Results: Children aged 7-11 years who have undergone rapid maxillary expansion experience facial soft tissue changes comparable to patients who have not undergone any expansion, in regards to both CBCTs and 3D facial scans, with no statistically significant differences found between the two groups over the one-year observation period. However, when comparing the two modalities utilized in this study (CBCT imaging and 3D facial scanning), the correlation was not as optimal for specific outcome variables such as alar base width and intercanthal width, potentially due to anatomic, imaging protocols and patient related factors.

  Conclusion:
  The findings of this research study suggest that children between the ages of 7-11 years affected with maxillary transverse deficiency treated by rapid maxillary expansion using a Hyrax expansion device experience facial soft tissue changes similar to those of patients without any expansion, over a period of one year, in regards to both CBCTs and 3D facial scans. However, given the limitations with regard to imaging protocols and sample size, the results must be interpreted with caution.
   

• Subjects / Keywords

  • soft tissue
  • facial
  • maxillary expansion

• Graduation date

  Fall 2023

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/r3-3pmk-pb39

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.