Evaluation of the effect of the maturation stage of structures adjacent to the maxilla on the changes related to surgical-assisted rapid maxillary expansion

The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the changes in the maxillary dentoalveolar structures in individuals who underwent surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME), to record the maturation stages of the zigomaticomaxillary suture (ZMS), and the midpalatal suture (MPS), as well as the sphenooccipital synchondrosis (SOS) closure degree. Additionally, we also aimed to investigate the existence of a possible correlation between the degree of maturation stages of the ZMS, SOS and MPS and the changes that occurred in the maxillary dentoalveolar structures in response to SARME. Based on the archive data of Bezmiâlem Vakif University Faculty of Dentistry, Orthodontics Department, the data of 20 individuals, aged of 15 years and above, were included in the present study (5 male, 15 female, average age 21 ± 5,8). CBCT images taken in the Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Department and plaster models obtained before and after the SARME protocol in the Orthodontics Department were evaluated. The maturation degrees of the MPS, ZMS and SOS in the CBCT images of all individuals were classified and the changes in the maxillary dentoalveolar structures before and after the protocol were measured on the plaster models. The data were analyzed using the SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences for Windows, IBM, New York, USA) software. A negative relationship was found between the MPS maturation score and the change in intermolar angle (r=-0.698, p=0.000). A positive relationship was found between MPS maturation and individuals' ages (r = 0.46, p = 0.04). A negative relationship was found between MPS maturation and the change in crown lengths of first premolar teeth (r=-0.487, p=0.02). A positive relationship was found between the retention time of the expansion device and the change in crown lengths of the first molars (r = 0.535, p = 0.01). A negative relationship was found between ZMS maturation and the change in crown lengths of second premolar teeth (r=-0.488, p=0.02). No relationship was found between SOS maturation and other parameters. As a result, no effect of SOS maturation on the changes occurring in the maxillary dentoalveolar structure after the SARME protocol was observed, and MPS maturation and ZMS maturation were found to be associated with the changes in the maxillary dentoalvolar structure after the SARME protocol. Key Words: Midpalatal suture, sphenoccipital synchondrosis, surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion, zigomaticomaxillary suture.