Effects of face mask treatment with and without rapid maxillary expansion in young adult subjects.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the skeletal, dental, and soft tissue effects of the face mask (FM) treatment with and without rapid maxillary expansion (RME) in young adult subjects with maxillary retrognathia.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Pretreatment and posttreatment cephalometric radiographs from 32 subjects who had a skeletal Class III malocclusion were analyzed. The subjects were divided into two groups: FM group (N  =  17; 3 male and 14 female subjects; mean [SD] age 14.47 [0.89] years) was treated with FM only, while the RME+FM group (N  =  15; 3 male and 12 female subjects; mean [SD] age 14.67 [1.28] years) was treated with both FM and RME. Ten cephalometric linear and nine angular variables were measured to assess dentofacial changes. Within-group and between-group comparisons were determined by a paired t-test and Student's t-test, respectively.

RESULTS

Forward displacement of the maxilla and a clockwise rotation of the mandible occurred in both groups. The maxillary-mandibular relationship improved and soft tissue changes resulted in a more convex profile. The maxillary incisors were more proclined in the FM group than in the RME+FM group, the only difference between the two groups. Notably, the mandibular incisors moved backward in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Forward movement of the maxilla can be obtained in young adults after face mask treatment. However, there was no difference in this phenomenon between the FM and RME+FM groups.