Comparison of traditional RPE with two types of micro-implant assisted RPE: CBCT study

Recently, various types of the Micro-implant Assisted RPE (MARPE) were introduced to obtain greater skeletal expansion and to minimize dental effects. In the present study, we evaluated skeletal and dental effects immediately after the completion of expansion using three different types of expanders-a traditional tooth-anchored maxillary expander (TAME) and two different types of MARPE, bone-anchored maxillary expander (BAME) and tooth-bone-anchored expander (MSE) using CBCT in adolescents. Overall, the MSE group showed much greater skeletal changes than the TAME and BAME groups, especially, at the nasal floor, maxillary base, and palatal suture. About 72-78% of suture opening was at PNS, which indicates slightly more opening anteriorly than posteriorly; however, it was relatively parallel in nature than anticipated. In all three groups, the greatest transverse changes with expansion occurred at the molar crowns and the 2nd greatest changes at the palatal suture opening at ANS. It is suggested that MSE can be a great alternative method in correcting maxillary skeletal transverse deficiency. (C) 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.