The skeletal effect of two mandibular expander on the mandibular arch: a CBCT comparative study

Abstract

evaluate and compare the skeletal and dentoalveolar effects of two different mandibular expansion appliances using cone beam computed tomography. Methods: The current randomized clinical study was conducted on a total sample of 20 orthodontic patients. The samples mean age 13.4 ± 0.5. CBCTs were taken before and after orthodontic expansion. The patients were divided in to two groups, group I: consisted 10 patients treated with Williams mandibular expander, group II: consisted 10 patients treated with skeletal mandibular expander. Results: The results showed high significant increase in all linear and angular parameter of the two mandibular expansion groups except the mandibular body width and mandibular incisor inclination. On comparison of the mean differences of treatment variables between both groups of mandibular expansion, dental and skeletal effects were not statistically different (p˃0.05). In contrast, the interpremolar width, intercanine width, and arch perimeter were significantly increased in skeletal expander group than the Williams one.