Evaluation of the skeletal, dental and soft tissue effects of SLOW maxillary expansion on in patients with EARLY mixed dentition stage

Posterior crossbite which is not treated in the early period, it may cause more complicated problems in the future. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the effects of the Leaf Expander applied on the dentofacial structures in patients in the early mixed dentition period. There is 12 patients with unilateral posterior crossbite between the ages of 7 and 10 were included in the treatment group, and 12 patients in the control group with no posterior crossbite were included in the control group. Measurements made on digital scanning models, panoramic and cephalometric films taken at pretreatment (T1) and at posttreatment (T2) were compared within group and between groups, and skeletal, dental and soft tissue changes were evaluated. According to the model analysis performed at the end of the treatment, a significant increase was observed in the palatal surface area, intermolar width, arch perimeter, molar angle and transverse measurements of the rugae. Compared to the control group, Area 1, Area 2 and interlateral rugae widths at the end of the treatment were found to be significantly higher. In the lateral cephalometric analyzes performed at the end of the treatment, it was observed that the maxilla was moved forward and downward at a significant level, the upper incisors moved downwards, and a significant increase in anterior facial height occurred. There was no significant difference between the control group and these measurements at the end of the treatment. While the value of UL-Ver distance, which is one of the soft tissue measurements, at the pretreatment was significantly lower than the control group, no significant difference was observed between posttreatment value and the control group. Although a significant increase was observed in all skeletal and dental widths measured in the posteroanterior cephalometric analyzes performed at the posttreatment, no significant difference was found between these measurements and the control group values. In the measurements made on panoramic films in which the position and inclination of the upper permanent canines were evaluated, no significant change was detected in the T2-T1 observation period and between the values of posttreatment and the control group. As a result of our study, it was determined that the Leaf Expander which was applied in the early period, showed some skeletal effects along with the dental effects, and did not significantly change the facial soft tissues and the inclination of the erupting maxillary canine teeth. Keywords: Leaf Expander, Posterior Crossbite, Mixed Dentition, Slow Maxillary Expansion