Effects of rapid maxillary expansion on hard and soft facial tissues in children with unilateral cleft lip and palate: A correlation study

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of rapid maxillary expansion (RME) on hard and facial soft tissues in children with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP). METHODS: TThis prospective longitudinal study comprised 34 UCLP children aged 8-10 years, with maxillary transverse constriction. The effects of RME on hard tissues were assessed using cone-beam computed tomography while facial soft tissues were assessed using a three-dimensional digital stereophotogrammetry. RESULTS: Pyriform aperture width increased by 3.38 mm (P<0.001), alar base width increased by 2.91 mm (P= 0.009), and alar base root width increased by 2.45 mm (P=0.022). Anterior maxillary basal width increased by 2.80 mm (P= 0.029). Inter zygomatic maxillary distance increased by 2.66 mm (P=0.031) and the ectomolar distance increased by 3.14 mm (P = 0.015). Pyriform width had strong positive correlation with alar base width (r= 0.86, P=0.015) and anterior maxillary basal width had strong positive correlation with alar base root width (r=0.79, P=0.007). . CONCLUSION: RME produced significant increase in the nasal hard and soft tissue width with a significant positive correlation between both variables.