Analysis of maxillary arch expansion in growing patients treated with early Class III protocol versus RME

Aim: To evaluate and compare the maxillary arch expansion obtained in growing patients treated with Class III early treatment protocol (the modified SEC III protocol), or rapid maxillary expansion (RME). Methods: This retrospective observational study included patients in the mixed dentition with maxillary constriction and/ or dental crowding. The first group consisted of 30 patients (11 males and 19 females, mean age 9.4 ±1.7 years) with dentoskeletal Class III malocclusion treated with the modified SEC III protocol. The second group of 30 patients (14 males and 16 females, mean age 9.3 ±1.5 years) with Class I or II malocclusion was treated with a Hyrax-type expander applied to bands on the first upper molars. For each subject, initial (T0) and post expansion (T1) digital dental casts were collected. The intermolar and intercanine widths, the arch lengths at both cusp and gingival levels, the anteroposterior length and the palatal depth were measured at T0 and T1. Results: At T1 there were statistically significant differences for 3-3 occlusal (OC) (P < 0.009), arch-length OC (P <0.030), anteroposterior arch-length (AP) (P <0.003), Depth (P <0.030) and Ap (P <0.000). No statistically significant T0-T1 changes were found between the modified SEC III and Hyrax groups except for Depth (P <0.011) with a mean difference of 2.3 mm between the two groups. Conclusions: Both bonded and banded expanders, used in the modified SEC III protocol and RME treatment respectively, produced similar changes in the upper arch. The different initial dentoskeletal malocclusions of the two sample groups were not relevant to the post-expansion arch changes.