Maxillary Expansion Overview: A Journey Through Time

The upper jaw is commonly indicated as the determinant arch such has the lower jaw is the guide arch in orthodontics. Several studies shown that maxillary transversal deficiency is a “syndrome” and cross bite is only a part of it. Slow and Rapid Maxillary Expansion are the most commonly used procedures in orthodontic for the treatment of maxillary transversal deficiency in a growing child. Literature about maxillary expansion provides information that deal with its utility in correcting certain types of sagittal malocclusions, even thought there is no cross bite. Class III and Class II problems can be often associated with a hidden maxillary deficiency. In addition maxillary expansion can improve nasal airway functions or it is able to modify some metabolic parameters. Clinical implications to the maxillary transverse issue and different therapeutic goals will be illustrate during the lecture.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify better a case with hidden maxillary contraction.
• Recognize which type of a mandibular response will occur.
• Select which case will improve nasal airflow.