Rapid maxillary expansion effects: an alternative assessment method by means of cone-beam tomography.

Introduction: This study aims to develop a method to assess the changes in palatal and lingual cross-sectional areas in patients submitted to rapid maxillary expansion (RME).

Methods: The sample comprised 31 Class I malocclusion individuals submitted to RME and divided into two groups treated with Haas (17 patients) and Hyrax (14 patients) expanders. Cone-beam computed tomography scans were acquired at T0 (before expansion ) and T1 (six months after screw stabilization).

Immediate changes in condylar position after rapid maxillary expansion.

Introduction: Although the dentoalveolar and skeletal effects of rapid maxillary expansion are well documented, the condylar response to this procedure is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to test the following null hypothesis: rapid maxillary expansion promotes immediate changes of the position of the condyles in patients with Class I malocclusion.

Methods: Thirty-four subjects with Class I malocclusion underwent rapid maxillary expansion.

Does the contact time of alginate with plaster cast influence its properties?

The aim of this study was to verify the influence of the time of contact between alginate and gypsum after the modeling procedure on the properties of the plaster cast, such as surface detail, dimensional stability and microhardness. Thirty cylindrical specimens of orthodontic gypsum Type III were made by means of impressions of a stainless steel master model which had five reference lines in the upper surface. The samples were divided into two groups: Group 1 (G1) - with time of contact of 1 hour; and Group 2 (G2) - 12 hours of contact.