Surgically Assisted Rapid Maxillary Expansion: Report Of 5 Cases

ABSTRACT

adults (3 cases of bilateral posterior crossbite, 2 cases of unilateral posterior crossbite)with intermaxillary discrepancy of over 5mm due to maxillary transverse deficiency were treated by surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME). Bilateral maxillary horizontal osteotomies, osteotomies of pterygomaxillary junction and anterior lateral nasal wall, and anterior palatal osteotomy were performed in 4 cases, and unilateral osteotomies in 1case, followed by palatal expansion with tooth-borne orthopedic appliance. No significant complication was observed.The mean palatal expansion was 7.2mm (5.8~10.0mm)in the maxillary first molar region. During the mean follow-up period of 4 years (5 months 8 years 7 months), no recurrence of crossbite was observed in all cases. The SARME seemed to be a simple, stable, and reliable procedure for achieving a permanent increase of over 5mm in skeletal maxillary transverse width of adults.