Three-dimensional CBCT evaluation of nasal and pharyngeal airway changes after rapid maxillary expansion: A study among growing children.

Maxillary transverse deficiency in growing children is associated with compromised nasal airway dimensions and altered respiratory function. Therefore, it is of interest to evaluate three-dimensional nasal and pharyngeal airway changes in 68 children aged 8-14 years before and six months after rapid maxillary expansion. Significant increases were observed in total nasal cavity volume (26.0%, p<0.001), minimum nasal cross-sectional area (34.2%, p<0.001) and nasopharyngeal volume (20.0%, p<0.001), while oropharyngeal changes were not statistically significant (p>0.05). The magnitude of nasal volumetric gain showed moderate correlation with amount of skeletal expansion achieved (r=0.542, p<0.001). Thus, rapid maxillary expansion produces substantial and region-specific upper airway enlargement, primarily affecting nasal and nasopharyngeal compartments in growing patients.