Assessment of Growth Changes in the Width of Dental Arches Caused by Removable Appliances over a Period of 10 Months in Children with Malocclusion.

(1)

Background

A large number of patients of orthodontic clinics are diagnosed with improper jaw relationships. Intraoral scanners have become an important part of orthodontic practice and provide an opportunity to measure the changes in the width of dental arches. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of removable appliances used over a 10-month period on growth changes in children with narrowed jaw dimensions. (2)

Methods

Twenty four patients were included in the study (a study group-patients, treated with removable appliances in the upper dental arch for a minimum of 10 months; a control group-patients with no craniofacial abnormalities and who did not require orthodontic treatment). A panoramic radiograph and digital intraoral scan were taken, followed by palatal width measurements in Ortho-CAD before treatment, and after a period of 10 months of treatment with removable appliances. (3)

Results

After a period of 10 months of the treatment, the study group had a statistically significantly greater mean change in the anterior width of the upper dental arch than the control group. (4)

Conclusions

The use of removable appliances in children with narrowed maxillary transverse dimension contributes to offsetting growth changes in comparison to children with normal occlusion.