TAD-assisted naso-maxillo-pharyngeal expansion

Rapid maxillary expanders (RMEs) have been widely used as an orthopedic treatment option to correct maxillary transverse deficiencies in growing patients. RMEs enable separation of the midpalatal suture, which is followed by orthopedic maxillary expansion. This chapter discusses the use of temporary anchorage devices for obtaining naso-maxillo-pharyngeal expansion. Various studies have shown that a significant correlation exists between palatal morphology and pharyngeal airway. The chapter describes two microimplant-assisted RMEs: miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expander and maxillary skeletal expander. It highlights the three-dimensional changes occurring after the installation of the expanders; the changes include transverse expansion pattern in the axial plane and vertical expansion pattern in the coronal plane. Conventional RME causes a change in the nasal cavity by separating the nasal cavity’s lateral walls, decreasing nasal resistance and facilitating the passage of air through the nose.