Three-Dimensional Prospective Evaluation of Piezocision-Assisted and Conventional Rapid Maxillary Expansion: A Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Piezocision-assisted orthodontics (PAO) is considered one of the modern techniques aiming at reducing the treatment time and overcoming some limitations of orthodontic treatment. The use of piezocision as an adjunct in the treatment of posterior crossbite is limited, so additional research in this area is required. AIM: To three-dimensionally compare the skeletal and dental effects produced by piezocision-assisted rapid maxillary expansion (PARME) and conventional rapid maxillary expansion (RME) using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective controlled study comprised 14 consecutive non-syndromic patients with posterior crossbite. In 7 patients (mean age = 16.1 ± 0.3 years), PARME was used to correct the crossbite; whereas in the remaining 7 (mean age = 15.9 ± 0.5 years), RME was done. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans were performed before expansion (T1) and 3 months later after expansion (T2) to compare the skeletal and dental effects produced by the two expansion techniques. Transverse skeletal, dentolinear, and dentoangular variables at the level of maxillary first and second premolars and maxillary first molars were measured and compared within and between groups using the appropriate statistical test. RESULTS: For the transverse skeletal variables, PARME showed a non-significant increase; whereas, RME showed a significant increase. Regarding the dentolinear measurements, a significant increase in coronal widths and an insignificant increase in apical widths was seen in PARME, whereas, the RME showed a non-significant increase for both coronal and apical widths. Non-significant decreases (protrusion of teeth) in the dentoangular measurements were seen in both groups. Between-group comparisons showed a non-significant difference except for the dentolinear coronal widths. CONCLUSION: PARME is effective in treating posterior crossbite. Because of the more dental expansion produced by PARME as compared to the conventional RME, PARME should be limited only to mild or moderate not severe forms of palatal constriction. The available evidence regarding the effectiveness of corticotomy- and/or piezocision-assisted maxillary expansion for correction of posterior crossbite is limited and inadequate.