Morphological Nasal Changes Associated with Rapid Maxillary Expansion

The aim of this study was to evaluate the morphological nasal changes associated with rapid maxillary expansion (RME) which is used in the treatment of skeletal maxillary narrowness. The study was performed with 20 patients 12 girls and 8 boys between the ages of 10 and 15 (13.4 +/- 0.99) and compared with a control group consisting of 16 subjects 10 girls and 6 boys between the ages of 10 and 15 (13.25 +/- 1.18). Lateral and anteroposterior radiographs were taken before RME (T1), after RME (T2), and after retention (T3). Greater alar cartilage width, nasal cavity width, vertical and sagittal movement of the tip of nose, SNA degrees and nasolabial angle measurements were evaluated to understand the morphological and positional changes of the nose associated with RME. The results showed that the greater alar cartilage width returned to its original position, the nasal cavity width increased, and the tip of the nose moved downward and minimally forward; as well, SNA degrees returned to its original value and a small increase occurred in the nasolabial angle due to RME. Soft tissue changes may be considered clinically non-significant compared with the controls. RME did not affect the patients' frontal nasal appearance and mid-face soft tissue profile.