Short-term effects produced by rapid maxillary expansion and facemask therapy in Class III patients with different vertical skeletal relationships.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dentoskeletal short-term effects of rapid maxillary expansion and facemask therapy (RME/FM) in a sample of Class III patients showing different vertical skeletal relationships.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-nine patients (35 females and 44 males) having Class III malocclusion were consecutively treated using RME/FM therapy with application of the protraction force in a downward and forward direction and inclination of about 30° to the occlusal plane. All patients were evaluated at the beginning (T1; mean age, 7.7 years) and at the end (T2; mean age, 9.2 years) of orthopedic therapy and divided into three groups according to their vertical skeletal relationships: normal group (NG), hypodivergent group (HypoG), and hyperdivergent group (HyperG). Statistical comparisons between the three groups were performed on the starting forms (T1), the final forms (T2), and the treatment changes (T1-T2) using the ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc tests.

RESULTS: Favorable modification in terms of maxillary advancement (changes in SNA ranging from 1.4° to 1.8°) and intermaxillary sagittal skeletal relationships (changes in Wits appraisal ranging from 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm) were recorded in all groups. The three groups showed no statistically significant differences in changes in either sagittal or vertical skeletal variables.

CONCLUSIONS: The various vertical skeletal features do not influence the short-term outcomes of RME/FM therapy.