Effects of Rapid Palate Expander on Facial Soft Tissues and Dental Arch: Study Conducted With Stereophotogrammetry and Intraoral Scans in Cleft Patients

Palatal expansion influences soft tissues as well as dental arches in terms of surface and volumetric changes. It was not possible to identify a relationship between the expansion of the dental arches and effects on the soft tissues. In unilateral cleft lip and palate, there was a non-symmetrical expansion of the arch; however, the position of the cleft does not influence the expansion. A symmetric expansion was frequent in the isolated cleft palate. Volumetric changes are mostly evident in the lower facial third.