Kl. Hesse et al., CHANGES IN CONDYLAR POSITION AND OCCLUSION ASSOCIATED WITH MAXILLARY EXPANSION FOR CORRECTION OF FUNCTIONAL UNILATERAL POSTERIOR CROSSBITE, American journal of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics, 111(4), 1997, pp. 410-418
The purpose of this study was to confirm that correction of functional
posterior crossbite through maxillary expansion is associated with a
change in condylar position and occlusal relationships, and to determi
ne whether maxillary expansion is associated with autonomous increase
in mandibular arch width. Pretreatment and posttreatment study models
of 61 patients ages 4.1 to 12.0 years (mean 8.5 years, SD 1.5) were av
ailable after maxillary expansion with a Quad Helix or a Haas expander
for correction of a functional posterior crossbite. Pretreatment and
posttreatment tomograms were available for 22 of the patients. Tomogra
phic evaluation revealed that the condyles moved posteriorly and super
iorly on the noncrossbite side from before to after treatment (p < 0.0
5). No differences were observed on the crossbite side. Superior joint
space was greatest on the noncrossbite side before treatment, whereas
, conversely, it was greatest on the crossbite side after treatment (p
< 0.05). Relative condylar position was more anterior on the noncross
bite side before treatment (p < 0.05), but similar on both sides after
treatment. Molar and canine relationships were more Class II on the c
rossbite side before treatment (p < 0.01 and < 0.05, respectively) and
similar on both sides after treatment. A significant reduction in mid
line deviation was seen from before to after treatment (p < 0.001). A
small, but significant autonomous increase in mandibular intermolar wi
dth (p < 0.001) occurred concomitant with the maxillary expansion.