Effects Of Facemask Treatment Anchored With Miniplates After Alternate Rapid Maxillary Expansions And Constrictions; A Pilot Study

Abstract

Objective: To describe the dentoskeletal and soft tissue effects of facemask treatment anchored with miniplates after alternate rapid maxillary expansions and constrictions (Alt-RAMEC) in maxillary retrusion patients. Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of 15 patients with a mean skeletal age of 11.6 +/- 1.59 years undergoing 8 weeks of Alt-RAMEC followed by maxillary protraction. Three hundred fifty to 400 g of force per side was applied to the facemask from the titanium miniplates inserted on the lateral nasal wall of the maxilla. Total treatment time was 9.9 +/- 2.63 months. Treatment changes were evaluated cephalometrically and analyzed by means of the dependent t-test and the Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results: The miniplates withstood the orthopedic forces exerted during the treatment. Cephalometric findings showed that the maxilla moved forward by 2 mm, with an 0.8 degrees counterclockwise rotation and without maxillary incisor movement. The mandible moved slightly in a downward and backward direction (1.2 degrees). The inclinations of the mandibular incisors decreased significantly (2 degrees). Statistically significant increases were observed in the vertical dimension (1 degrees-1.3 degrees). Soft tissue changes were more marked in the upper lip and soft tissue pogonion than in the lower lip. Conclusions: This treatment approach can offer an advantage for correcting mild/moderate maxillary retrusion in Class Ill patients. (Angle Orthod. 2011;81:639-646.)