Assessment of Nasopharyngeal Changes Following MARPE and Self-ligating Appliance Treatments: A CBCT-based Study

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the sagittal area, minimum axial area and volume of the nasopharynx after treatment with MARPE and self-ligating appliances.

Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of documentation and initial and final CT scans of 37 patients with Class I malocclusion treated without extraction, divided into 2 groups: Group 1 (Self-ligating): 21 patients, mean age of 19.55 years (s.d.=1.31), 11 men and 10 women, with moderate dental crowding, presence of maxillary atresia and treated with self-ligating fixed appliance Damon 3MX. Group 2 (MARPE): 16 patients, with a mean age of 24.92 years (s.d.=7.60), 11 women and 5 men, with the presence of maxillary atresia and posterior crossbite and treated with mini-implant anchored rapid maxillary expansion (MARPE). The Dolphin Imaging 3D software was used to assess nasopharyngeal changes using CBCT scans before and after treatment with MARPE and after leveling with self-ligating appliances. Intergroup comparison was performed using the independent t-test.

Results: The MARPE group showed a statistically greater increase in all nasopharyngeal measurements, ie, sagittal area, minimum axial area and volume, with treatment, than the self-ligating group.

Conclusion: Miniscrew-supported rapid maxillary expansion (MARPE) achieved better results with a greater increase in all nasopharyngeal measurements than self-ligating appliances.