Effect of maxillary expansion and protraction on the oropharyngeal airway in individuals with non-syndromic cleft palate with or without cleft lip

The aim of this study was to evaluate three dimensionally the effect of the combined maxillary expansion and protraction treatment on oropharyngeal airway in children with non-syndromic cleft palate with or without cleft lip (CP/L). Methods CBCT data of 18 preadolescent individuals (ages, 8.4 ± 1.7 years) with CP/L, who underwent Phase I orthodontic maxillary expansion with protraction, were compared before and after treatment. The average length of treatment was 24.1± 7.6 months. The airway volume and minimal cross-sectional area (MCA) were determined using 3DMD Vultus imaging software with cross-sectional areas calculated for each 2-mm over the entire length of the airway. A control group of 8 preadolescent individuals (ages, 8.7 ± 2.6 years) with CP/L was used for comparison. Results There was a statistically significant increase in pharyngeal airway volume after phase I orthodontic treatment in both groups, however, there was no statistically significant change in minimal cross-sectional area in neither study nor control group. Conclusion The findings showed that maxillary expansion and protraction did not have a significant effect on increasing oropharyngeal volume and MCA in patients with CP/L.