Advancing the assessment of forces in rapid maxillary expansion

Maxillary transverse hypoplasia, also known by maxillary constriction, is a common condition of the upper jaw that often can result in crowding, blocked out teeth, functional shifts, asymmetric jaw growth, and posterior crossbites. The rate at which this transverse discrepancy occurs is estimated to be anywhere from 13% to 30% of the population. The standard of orthodontic care is treatment with a rapid maxillary expander (RME) with the goal of separating the midpalatal suture. An RME uses a jackscrew to translate a force to the dentition and maxillary bone with the goal of separating the midpalatal suture. Few studies have attempted to measure the forces applied by RMEs during treatment. The objective of this study is to pilot a novel method for quantifying these forces.