Introduction: Transverse maxillary discrepancies are commonly encountered in orthodontic practice, particularly in adolescents and adults. Various treatment methods, such as microimplant-assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE) and segmental Le Fort I...
Introduction: Transverse maxillary discrepancies are commonly encountered in orthodontic practice, particularly in adolescents and adults. Various treatment methods, such as microimplant-assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE) and segmental Le Fort I osteotomy, have been utilized to address these issues. While MARPE offers a less invasive approach with significant skeletal expansion and minimal dental side effects, segmental Le Fort I osteotomy provides comparable stability but involves a more invasive surgical procedure. This study aims to compare the long-term transverse expansion stability between MARPE and segmental Le Fort I osteotomy to determine their clinical effectiveness.
Materials & Methods: A total of 30 patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 (15 patients treated with MARPE) and Group 2 (15 patients treated with Segmental Le Fort I Osteotomy). Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans were performed at three time points: T0 (before expansion), T1 (after expansion), and T2 (during retention). Measurements focused on the greater palatine foramen width and J point width to evaluate skeletal expansion and relapse rates. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS software to determine the significance of these changes.
Results: Both groups demonstrated significant skeletal expansion. In Group 1 (MARPE), the skeletal relapse rates were 10.68 ± 6.18% at the greater palatine foramen and 12.29 ± 5.76% at the J point. In Group 2 (Segmental Le Fort I Osteotomy), the skeletal relapse rates were 11.99 ± 6.43% at the greater palatine foramen and 13.22 ± 5.13% at the J point. No significant expansion was observed in nasal width for Group 2, suggesting a controlled approach in this region. There were no statistically significant differences in the expansion amounts or relapse rates between the two groups, indicating comparable stability.
Conclusion: No significant difference in the expansion amount was observed between the two groups, suggesting that the expansion achieved in Group 2 is comparable to that of Group 1 in clinical practice. Group 2 can be a valuable alternative when nasal expansion is unnecessary, as it does not significantly affect nasal width. The similar relapse rates between the two groups indicate that the surgical expansion in Group 2 offers stability comparable to the gradual expansion achieved with MARPE.