Dentoalveolar changes in adults promoted by the use of auxiliary expansion arch: A cbct study

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate the dentoalveolar effects and the changes of buccal cortical bone in the posterior area after expansion obtained with TMA auxiliary expansion arch in adult patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of CT scans of 13 patients (6 male, 7 female) treated at a private clinic, taken immediately before and after the use of an auxiliary expansion archwire, was performed. Mean age at installation of TMA auxiliary expansion arch was 29.23 years (s.d.=9.13) and the mean age when the auxiliary arch was removed was 29.52 years (s.d.=9.16). Mean time of the use of the TMA auxiliary expansion arch was 0.29 years (s.d.=0.09). The patients used fixed appliances and after leveling and alignment, a TMA auxiliary expansion arch was installed, combined with the primary 0.017x0.025-inch thermoactivated Ni-Ti archwire. CBCT scans were taken at T1 and T2. Linear and angular measurements regarding the positioning of maxillary molar, premolars and canines were performed. Intragroup comparison of the variables at T1 and T2 was performed with dependent t tests. RESULTS: There was statistically significant transverse increase and buccal inclination of all teeth. The cortical bone showed adaptability and displacement in the same direction of tooth movement, but in smaller amounts. CONCLUSIONS: The auxiliary expansion arch proved to be effective to correct dentoalveolar constriction in adult patients, by increasing the buccal dental inclination with larger displacements than the bone crest adaptation and with significant transverse gains. Key words:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography, Maxillary Expansion, Adult treatment.