ZeroExpander® effectiveness assessment in PEEK or PA12 in a group of paediatric patients with transverse maxillary deficiency

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ABSTRACT

Aim

The aim of this article is to compare the performance of ZeroExpander® realised using PEEK or PA12 for the expansion of the
maxilla in paediatric patients, exploring a new concept for approaching maxillary expansion with a metal-free fixed automatic appliance, based on pre-programmed set-up and anchored on deciduous teeth.

Material and methods

It is a retrospective comparative study with a sample of 40 children in early or mixed deciduous dentition and transversal maxillary deficit, 20 treated with ZeroExpander® in PEEK and 20 treated with ZeroExpander® in PA12 with a mean age of 7.3 years old. The intraoral scans at T0 and at the end of the expansion were all performed by the same operator to obtain digital models on which were performed measurements by two other different operators. A descriptive analysis was conducted using frequencies and percentages for nominal variables and means and standard deviations for continuous variables.

Results

A comparison between the two treatments highlighted a different response for variable C, with higher expansion values for PEEK. However, variables D, E and 6° did not show statistical significance. The performed anchoring does not show significant differences in achieving the total set up, whether there is anchoring on the C or not, itself as proof of an expansion similar to what is seen in an orthopaedic expansion. The statistical analysis showed that PEEK and PA12 leads to overlapping results in terms of palatal expansion. The cementation of PEEK devices was more complex, due to their minor flexibility and this led clinicians to prefer ZeroExpander® in PA12 afterwards, because of its greater ease of bonding due to the surface microroughness.

Conclusion

In cases of allergy or hypersensitivity to metals or to specific chronic or acute pathological conditions, which may require periodic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), it may not be possible to use traditional and metal fixed expansion devices. Moreover the concept of autonomous driving in paediatric orthodontics is not only possible, but it is and will be more real and very useful in the future. The “ortho-paediatric dentistry concept” will increase the range of benefits for children and their families which, in addition to care and thanks to technology, demand well-being, safety, comfort and quality of life beyond clinics.

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