Efficacy of Rapid Maxillary Expansion Associated With Maxillary Protraction in Patients With Unilateral Complete Cleft Lip and Palate

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of rapid maxillary expansion (RME) and maxillary protraction (MP) in patients with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate (UCLP) using the Goslon yardstick index. Design: Retrospective study. Patients: Dental casts of 34 Goslon 3 (G3) and Goslon 4 (G4) patients treated with RME and MP were evaluated which composed the treated sample (S1). The dental cast were taken before the RME (T1) and immediately after the use of face mask for MP was suspended (T2). In order to verify the stability of the treatment, dental casts of 17 of these patients were evaluated 1 year after the treatment was finished (T3). For the control sample (S2), dental casts of 20 untreated G3 and G4 patients were evaluated. Results: At T2, 85.7% of study sample patients initially G3 and 70% of patients initially G4 obtained improvement in occlusal index. At T3, the majority of patients initially classified as G3 and G4 returned to the same classification as in the beginning of the treatment. The evaluation of the control sample showed that patients initially classified as G3, 55.6% continued at this initial index, and 44.4% had it worsened. Those initially G4, 100%, continued at this initial index. Conclusion: The immediate result of RME and MP was satisfactory, and despite the instability of these results, the outcome of this treatment option was better than the untreated sample.