Long-term treatment effects of rapid maxillary expansion and facemask therapy: a controlled study.

Aim: To evaluate the long-term effects of rapid maxillary expansion and facemask therapy (RME/FM) in Class III subjects. Subjects and Methods: 22 Class III subjects (TG, mean age 9.2 ys) were treated consecutively with RME/FM therapy followed by fixed appliances. The patients were re-evaluated after the 2-phase treatment (mean age 14.5 ys), and re-called 8.5 years from the end of RME/FM therapy (mean age 18.7 ys). 2 samples of controls with untreated Class III malocclusion (CG) were used for statistical comparisons (Mann-Whitney U test) of the short- and long-term intervals. Results: No significant differences in maxillary changes were found, while TG showed significantly smaller increases in mandibular protrusion. The sagittal maxillo-mandibular variables maintained significant improvements in TG vs CG. Conclusions: RME/FM therapy led to successful outcomes in 73% of the patients. Favorable changes were mainly due to significant improvements in the sagittal position of the mandible.