Class III malocclusion remained as the most challenging malocclusions and different modalities have been developed to treat these abnormalities. Furthermore, adequate forward movement of the maxilla has been shown using the rapid palatal expansion with facemask therapy in some studies; however, the others reported slight movement or no movement for the maxilla in this technique. The present study assessed the cephalometric effect of rapid palatal expansion + facemask on the maxillary protraction in skeletal Class III growing patient.
Methods:
In this prospective semi-experimental clinical trial, 20 skeletal Class III growing patients were selected refering to the shahid beheshti, dental school. The patients were treated using the rapid palatal expansion + facemask technique and their before and after treatment lateral cephalograms were traced. Twenty three angular, linear and ratio landmarks were calculated in these cephalograms and their changes were statistically assessed by means of paired t test.
Results:
Most studies landmarks did not show significant differences in comparison of before and after treatment following RPE+ Fasemack therapy. However, witt’s ratio (2.27 ± 3.33 : p<0.019), mandibular length ( 1.8 ± 3.26 mm: p<0.05), maxillary lengh (2.3±3.51 mm: p<0.024), 1 –SN angle ( 5.87 ±6.13 degree: p<0.002) and N-Pog-1 distance (3.3±1.83 mm: p<0.0001) significantly increased with the treatment and interincisal angle ( 5.1 ±8.65 degree: p<0.039) decreased with a significant value. No differences were noted regarding sum of posterior angles in spite of vertical growth pattern in patients in the beginning of treatment.
Conclusions:
Rapid palatal expansion with the face mask therapy was positively effective to correct CL III malocclusion relationship without any dental side effects.