Evaluation of dentoskelatal effects of three different expansion appliances (Jointed fan type, quad helix) in unilateral cleft lip and palate patients

79 SUMMARY This study was planned to see and to compare the three different appliances correcting the unilateral crossbite in the unilateral cleft lip and palate patients. Lateral cephalometric, posteroanterior, basiller, hand-wrist films and upper casts were evaluated, which were taken at the beginning and at the end of the expansion treatment in the 30 unilateral cleft lip and palate patients. Each group consisted of 10 cases. Quad- helix and modified quad-helix groups were consisted of 3 girls and 7 boys and jointed fan type group was consisted of 4 girls and 6 boys. The chronological and skelettal ages were 10.03 ± 1.47 years and 8.72 ± 1.36 years in quad- helix group; 9.03 ± 1.72 years and 8.56 ± 1.53 years in modified quad-helix group; 10.27 ± 2.15years and 8.83 ± 1.59 years in jointed fan-type group at the beginning of expansion treatment. The duration of expansion treatment time was found meanly 4.72 months in quad-helix group, 5.31 months in modified quad- helix group and 4.58 months in jointed fan type group. 18 parametres on lateral cephalograms, 17 parametres on posteroanterior cephalograms, 15 parametres on basiller cephalograms and 3 parametres on upper cast, total 53 parametres were evaluated. Wilcoxon test was used to compare the significancy of the differences between the values at the beginning and at the end of the expansion treatment and Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the significancy of the differences between the goups. According to the results, significant amount of expansion was obtained in all groups in the crossbite side. In the jointed- fan type group, significant amount of80 expansion was also found in the normal side but the amount of the expansion in normal side was less than the crossbite side. It was found that the type of buccal movement was tipping in all groups but the amount of tipping movement in jointed fan type group was too little; and that the intermolar width was decreased in quad-helix group; remained stabil in the modified quad-helix group: and increased in the jointed fan type group at the end of the expansion treatment.