ABSTRACT

When nasally obstructed, cases would lead to mouth breathing in order to survive. The Rapid Maxillary Expansion treatment (R.M.E.) employed for maxillary discrepancy cases is reported to improve then nasal airway as a secondary effect. The aim of this study is to evaluate the changes occurring in the nasal airway, during R.M.E. cephalometrically. Material and Method: The study is carried out in the patients (n=39) whom their treatments required R.M.E. The pre-expansion and postexpansion lateral cephalograms were evaluated and AD1, AD2, Ba-S-PNS, Articuler angle, SN-MP angle parameters were measured. In addition to these parameters, the adenoidal tissue in the nasopharyngeal zone was calculated by means of mm2, and it was divided by nasopharyngeal area and the Adenoidal Ratio was found. For the caldilation of the nasopharyngeal airway ratio Schulhof formula (1978) was employed (J-Adenoidal Ratio=Nasopharyngeal Airway Ratio). Cephalometric findings were statistically evaluated by using Student-t test. Findings: The clianges in the parameters AD1 (p<0.05) and AD2 (p<0.01) were statistically significant as showing improvement in the nasal airway. Conclusion: It can be concluded by saying that R.M.E. had improving effects in the nasal airway. However, stability would be the subject of another study.