Sutural Loading In Bone- vs. Tooth-borne Maxillary Expanders: An Ex-vivo Study

Bone-borne maxillary expansion is an emerging treatment modality. It is believed that bypassing teeth and applying the expansion load directly to the maxillary bone results in more efficient force delivery and separation of heavily interdigitated sutures that cannot be separated using tooth-borne expanders. Loading of circumaxillary sutures during bone-borne expansion is still largely unknown. In this study we discuss loading of the alveolar bone and circumaxillary sutures in bone- versus tooth-borne expanders using an ex-vivo animal model.

Learning Objectives:

• Evaluate the difference in pattern of maxillary expansion between bone- and tooth-borne expanders.
• Identify the difference in loading of the circumaxillary sutures between bone- and tooth-borne expanders.
• Identify the difference in alveolar bone bending between bone-and tooth-borne expanders.