TY - JOUR ID - TI - The efficiency and stability of maxillary expansion with Quadhelix; a longitudinal study AU - Anfal Abdul- Majeed Al-Ani انفال عبد المجيد العاني PY - 2012 VL - 24 IS - 3 SP - 98 EP - 105 JO - Journal of baghdad college of dentistry مجلة كلية طب الاسنان بغداد SN - 18171869 23115270 AB - Background: Transverse maxillary deficiencies constitute a routine clinical problem in orthodontics, Quadhelixis oneof the slow maxillary expanders which used to solve these problems. The purpose of this study was to investigate thelong-term clinical responses of Quadhelixas slow maxillary expander; a treatment performed for early permanentdentition in Class I malocclusion.Subjects and methods: A study sample of 30 patients (13 males and 17 females) were selected on the criteria ofhaving Class I permanent dentition with transverse maxillary deficiency, and mild or no crowding mandibular dentalarch, treated with Quadhelix expander without extraction, with active mechanotherapy for teeth alignment (asneeded).The mean age of the sample was 12 years and 2 months for girls and 12 years and 11 months for boys at treatmentinitiation. Cast and cephalometric measurements outcomes were evaluated at pretreatment phase A0, postactiveexpansionphase A1, post-retentive phaseA2 (one year after A1), and at the end of long term follow-upA3(three years after A1). The results were compared to a control group of 30 subjects (15 males and 15 females) ofClass I with normal occlusions of the same age group. Simple training to withdraw bad oral habitswas carried out allover the study.Results: Casts and cephalometric x-rays measurements were quantified and compared among phase A0, A1, A2, andA3. Using Student’s t-test, the study group demonstrated a significant increase in the arch width values during theactiveexpanding phase (P, .001) and less significant increaseduring the long-term follow-up (P, .01). Stable archlength and no increase in the lower facial height were beneficial results.Conclusions: The long-term clinical response demonstrated the efficiency and stability of this type of treatment inachieving maxillary arch width with no threatening of mandibular downward rotation. The follow-up evaluationconfirmed the validity of overtreatment.

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