Ahmed I. Abdul-Aziz And Wael M. Refai,

ABSTRACT
Objective: To Three-dimensionally Compare The Skeletal And Dental Effects Produced By Micro-osteoperforation Assisted Rapid Maxillary Expansion (MOPARME) And Conventional Rapid Maxillary Expansion (RME) Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT).

Materials and Methods: A Sample Of 14 Patients With Posterior Crossbite From The Outpatient Clinic Of The Department Of Orthodontics, Faculty Of Dentistry, Minia University, Egypt, Was Divided Into Two Groups According To The Type Of Expansion: MOPARME (n = 7, 4 Males And 3 Females, Mean Age= 16.0 � 0.6 Years) And RME (n = 7, 5 Males And 2 Females, Mean Age= 15.9 � 0.5 Years). CBCT Scans Were Taken Before Expansion (T1) And 3 Months After Expansion (T2). Transverse Skeletal Expansion, Transverse Dental Expansion, And Buccopalatal Teeth Inclination In Relation To The Maxillary Plane Were Evaluated At The Level Of Maxillary Premolars And First Molars.

Results: A Statistically Significant Increase In The Facial, Nasal And Maxillary Widths Was Found In Both Groups. MOPARME Showed A Significant Increase In The Apical Width At The Level Of The Maxillary First Molar And Coronal Widths At The Level Of The First And Second Maxillary Premolars, While RME Group Showed No Significant Increase Regarding All Dentolinear Measurements. Although The MOPARME Showed A Statistically Significant Decrease Only For The External Buccopalatal Inclination Angle Of The Right And Left Maxillary Second Premolars, RME Demonstrated Non-significant Decrease Regarding All Dentoangular Measurements. Between Groups Comparison Showed A Non-significant Difference Regarding All Measurements Except For The Facial Width.

Conclusions: Both Treatment Modalities Are Effective In Treating Posterior Crossbite. Although Conventional RME Produced More Skeletal Transverse Expansion Than Did MOPARME, There Was No Significant Difference Between The Two Groups Except For The Facial Width. MOPARME Produced More Dental Transverse Expansion, But No Significant Difference Was Found Between The Two Groups.