Bilateral cross-bite treated by repeated rapid maxillary expansions: a 17-year follow-up case

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ABSTRACT

Background

The objective of this paper is to show the clinical results after the repeated application of a Haas expander
for rapid maxillary expansion (RME) anchored onto deciduous teeth in a 7-year-old patient that presented bilateral cross-bite, superior
crowding and no space for permanent lateral incisors eruption.

Case report

A first Haas expander was applied to the patient. She
was told to activate it once a day, each activation was equal to 0.20 mm. After the first RME, the bilateral cross-bite was solved but still
there was not enough space for lateral incisor eruption. A second and then a third Haas expander were applied, with the same
activation protocol as the first one, in order to gain space in the anterior region and to achieve proper eruption of the lateral incisors. The
patient was then treated with fixed appliances. At debonding the patient presented well aligned arch-forms: space for lateral incisor
eruption was gained and superior crowding was solved. Bilateral cross-bite was also corrected. She was seen again 10 years and 17
years after expansions: she showed no relapse and presented a good functional occlusion that had remained stable, and an
aesthetically pleasant smile, however she exhibited gingival recessions.

Conclusion

Repeated rapid maxillary expansion, anchored
onto deciduous teeth, performed in early mixed dentition represents a safe and successful treatment to correct severe bilateral cross-
bites and to create space for maxillary incisor eruption.

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