Wm. Northway et Jb. Meade, SURGICALLY ASSISTED RAPID MAXILLARY EXPANSION - A COMPARISON OF TECHNIQUE, RESPONSE, AND STABILITY, The Angle orthodontist, 67(4), 1997, pp. 309-320
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences in treatment
effects between adult patients who underwent surgically assisted rapi
d maxillary expansion employing buccal corticotomies and those who had
midpalatal splits as well. Responses and sequelae of these treated pa
tients were compared with adults who were expanded orthopedically and
adults who were treated orthodontically without expansion. The sample
comprised 37 patients who were expanded and 5 controls. Dental study c
asts were taken prior to treatment, at debanding, and at the posttreat
ment follow-up. The results indicated that maxillary expansion in adul
ts was predictable and stable, corrected crossbites remained corrected
, palatal depth was reduced in SARME, palatal width increased (more dr
amatically in patients treated with a combined procedure), and tipping
was controlled and stable. The long-term buccogingival condition was
more acceptable in adults expanded with surgical augmentation than in
those expanded orthopedically.