Effect of maxillary expansion and protraction on the oropharyngeal airway in individuals with non-syndromic cleft palate with or without cleft lip

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate three dimensionally the effect of the combined maxillary expansion and protraction treatment on oropharyngeal airway in children with non-syndromic cleft palate with or without cleft lip (CP/L). METHODS: CBCT data of 18 preadolescent individuals (ages, 8.4 ± 1.7 years) with CP/L, who underwent Phase I orthodontic maxillary expansion with protraction, were compared before and after treatment. The average length of treatment was 24.1± 7.6 months. The airway volume and minimal cross-sectional area (MCA) were determined using 3DMD Vultus imaging software with cross-sectional areas calculated for each 2-mm over the entire length of the airway. A control group of 8 preadolescent individuals (ages, 8.7 ± 2.6 years) with CP/L was used for comparison. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant increase in pharyngeal airway volume after phase I orthodontic treatment in both groups, however, there was no statistically significant change in minimal cross-sectional area in neither study nor control group. CONCLUSION: The findings showed that maxillary expansion and protraction did not have a significant effect on increasing oropharyngeal volume and MCA in patients with CP/L.