Evaluation of Masticatory Muscle Activity in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Rapid Maxillary Expansion

Plain-language summary

Transverse maxillary constriction is a malocclusion that subsists when the distance between the upper first molars palatal cuspids is lower than the distance between the lower first molars vestibular center fossae. Consequently it can be clinically expressed with a narrow and high palatal vault, a unilateral or bilateral crossbite, dental crowding, and/or reduced volume of the nasal cavities. It is one of the most common malocclusions in children, with a prevalence of 8 to 22% among orthodontic patients in primary and mixed dentition and 5 to 15% among the general population. The hypothesis of this study is that transverse maxillary constriction correction by Rapid Maxillary Expansor achieves improved muscles activation potential in treated patients and improved symmetry in patient with unilateral crossbite. The aim of this study is to evaluate electromyographic activity of the masseter, anterior temporalis and suprahyoid muscles in clentching, chewing and swallowing in patients undergoing expansion therapy of the maxillary with rapid palatal expander. The electromyographic evaluation is carried out before the treatment (T0), at the end of the expansion (T1) and after 6 months from T1 (T2).

Who can participate

What they're measuring

Trial details