Orthodontists' Knowledge and Perception of the Prolonged Use of Rapid Palatal Expanders (RPEs) in the Saudi Arabian Population: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Orthodontic expansion using a rapid palatal expander (RPE), initiated early in life, is one approach to treating malocclusions. However, prolonged RPE use leads to negative consequences. The study aims to determine the perception and experience of orthodontists related to the prolonged use of RPE and their management. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among orthodontists (n = 1,125) in Saudi Arabia using an online survey. The questionnaire consisted of two sections. Section A included personal and demographic details, while Section B contained questions regarding participants' perception, knowledge, and experience related to the prolonged use of RPE and their management protocols among children aged 6 to 14 years. To assess differences in participants' perceptions and work experiences, including their approach toward tele-dentistry, the Chi-Square test was employed. Results The most prevalent reason for patients' prolonged usage of RPE was missing appointments due to multiple reasons, such as negligence, traveling (13.6%), or COVID-19 (9.6%). Among the types, the banded RPE was the most used (68.8%). The most common complications included buccal tipping of posterior teeth (72%), over-expansion (39.2%), and extrusion (25.6%). Conclusions Most orthodontists used a banded type of RPE, and the most common complication was buccal tipping of posterior teeth. There were no significant differences in complications when banded or bonded RPEs were used. The use of tele-dentistry and additional appliances to treat complications was reported by half of the participating orthodontists.