The Effects of Mini-Implant Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion on Intrabony Canals in The Anterior Maxilla

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the impact of mini-implant assisted rapid maxillary expansion (MARPE) on intrabony canals in the anterior maxilla. Methods: The cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans obtained before and after treatment from 24 patients who underwent mini-implant assisted rapid maxillary expansion (MARPE) were analyzed retrospectively. In the sagittal plane, three levels of the incisive foramen (lower, middle, and upper) were assessed. Mediolateral and buccolingual widths were measured on axial sections, and the widest diameter of the canalis sinuosus was measured in the coronal section. Pre-treatment and post-treatment measurements were statistically compared. Results: The mediolateral width of the incisive foramen showed a statistically significant increase at the lower and middle levels during the T1 stage compared with the T0 stage (p=.0001). In the buccolingual width of the incisive foramen, measurements at the lower level in the T1 stage also exhibited a statistically significant increase compared to the T0 stage (p=.0049). However, no statistically significant difference was found in the measurements at the middle level (p=.365) (Table 3). Additionally, the measurements on the right side of the canalis sinuosus demonstrated a statistically significant increase in the T1 stage compared to the T0 stage (p=.0004) (Table 4). Conclusion: MARPE causes expansion of the intrabony canals in the anterior maxilla. The expansion of these canals may be attributed to the need for increased vascularization and innervation accompanying the increased bone volume.