Evaluation of cone-beam computed tomography on upper airway changes after alternating rapid palatal expansion and constriction

• Published in: Beijing da xue xue bao. Journal of Peking University. Yi xue ban Vol. 49; no. 4; p. 685
• Main Authors: Chang, D T, Zhou, Y H, Liu, W T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Chinese
• Published: China 18.08.2017
• ISSN: 1671-167X

To evaluate the changes of different parts of upper airway after alternating rapid palatal expansion and constriction via three dimensional measurement, compared with the protocol of rapid palatal expansion alone. In the study, 36 patients with retrognathic maxilla were selected and randomized to either group A or group B. The patients in group A were treated with rapid palatal expansion alone. The patients in group B were treated with alternating rapid palatal expansion and constriction. Three dimensional analyses were performed on all pre- and post-treatment cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images with the software Dolphin. Two subjects in group B were lost to follow up during the treatment. The gender distributions, ages and all measuring items before treatment had no significant difference between group A and group B (P>0.05). Nasal floor width, nasal lateral width, nasal volume, and nasopharynx volume increased significantly in each group after rapid palatal expansion alone or rapid palatal expansion