Non-extraction orthodontic treatment for severe dental crowding using miniscrew-assisted rapid maxillary expansion

Malocclusion is caused by an incorrect relationship between the teeth and jaws, which leads to an abnormal variation of normal occlusion. Crowding is an increasingly common type of malocclusion caused by a discrepancy in tooth-jaw size that leads to twisted and misaligned teeth. Two methods to treat this malalignment are tooth material reduction and arch width expansion. Of these two treatment options, the latter is preferred because it enables orthodontists to avoid extractions and increase the dental arch perimeter by widening the jaws; this resolves crowding and accommodates existing teeth. This case report describes a unique approach in the treatment of a patient with severe crowding by an orthopaedic widening of the dental arches using a skeletally anchored rapid palatal expander. Under favorable circumstances, this approach can serve as a robust method to treat patients with severe crowding and may be used as an alternative to extraction.