Skeletal effects of RME in the transverse and vertical dimensions of the nasal cavity in mouth-breathing growing children

INTRODUCTION: Maxillary constriction is a dentoskeletal deformity characterized by discrepancy in maxilla/mandible relationship in the transverse plane, which may be associated with respiratory dysfunction. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the skeletal effects of RME on maxillary and nasal transverse dimensions and compare the differences between males and females. METHODS: Sixty-one mouth-breathers patients with skeletal maxillary constriction (35 males and 26 females, mean age 9.6 years) were included in the study. Posteroanterior (PA) radiographs were taken before expansion (T(1)) and 3 months after expansion (T(2)). Data obtained from the evaluation of T(1) and T(2) cephalograms were tested for normality with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov method. The Student’s t-test was performed for each measurement to determine sex differences. RESULTS: RME produced a significant increase in all linear measurements of maxillary and nasal transverse dimensions. CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences were associated regarding sex. The RME produced significant width increases in the maxilla and nasal cavity, which are important for treatment stability, improving respiratory function and craniofacial development.