Abstract
BACKGROUND: The question of choosing upper jaw expansion methods is relevant because of the high prevalence of upper jaw narrowing, which occurs in 7.9% and 9.9% of patients aged 1218 and 1850 years, respectively.
AIM: This study aimed to increase the efficiency of orthodontic treatments of patients with constricted upper jaw who refused volumetric surgical interventions.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: The results of the combined treatment of patients with narrow maxilla during the period of permanent bite are presented. The combined treatment consisted of orthodontic treatment using palatal expanders in combination with piezo corticotomy. Twenty patients with narrowing and deformity of the upper jaw were treated using this protocol, which was selected according to the results of cone-beam computed tomography in accordance with the stage C of the formation of the median palatal suture (mean age, 18.5 years). Orthodontic treatment was performed using tooth-borne and bone-borne palatal expanders.
RESULTS: The successful upper jaw expansion at the skeletal level was achieved in all the treated cases. The choice of the proposed method of treatment of adult patients with maxillary constriction was based on the analysis of the formation of the medial palatal suture and individual assessment of bone density.
CONCLUSION: The proposed method of upper jaw expansion allows the expansion of the upper jaw not at the dental but at the skeletal level.