Clinical and 3-dimensional radiographic assessment of nasal airway volume in adult orthodontic patients following mini-screw assisted rapid maxillary expansion: A prospective clinical study

Objectives: mini-screw assisted rapid maxillary expansion (MARME) can be clinically acceptable and stable treatment modality for maxillary constriction in adults. Subjects and methods: The current study was conducted on 12 orthodontic patients. The mini-screw assisted rapid maxillary expansion appliance consists of two molar bands attached to maxillary first molars and 4 micro-implants to be bi-cortically inserted. Expansion protocol: Initial expansion rate: 2 turns/day. Expansion rate after opening of the diastema: 1 turn/day. CBCT was performed after 3 months after expansion. Data from the CBCT were reconstructed to produce slices for preoperative and postoperative evaluation, Direct assessment of airway dimensions through nasal endoscopy for assessment of nasal airway flow and CBCT of nasal airway dimensions (T0 for preoperative dimension, T1 for dimension at 3 months of expansion and T2 for dimension at 6 months of expansion). Results: In the present study, there was a statistically significant increase in nasal volume, pharyngeal volume, and total volume after T1 and T2. There was a statistically significant increase in nasal volume, pharyngeal volume, and total volume at T1 – T2 and T0 – T2. By Nasal endoscopy there was a statistically significant improvement in nasal volume after 3 and 6 months of Expansion. Conclusion: After nonsurgical maxillary expansion in young adults, the nasal and pharyngeal volume and mean total volume significantly increased at T1 – T2 and T0 – T2. These results suggest that mini screw assisted rapid maxillary expansion can be a helpful modality to improve breathing in young adults with maxillary constriction.