Aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness of Invisalign® First clear aligners compared to tooth-borne Hyrax-type maxillary expander on palatal morphology in growing subjects using 3D technology.
Aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness of Invisalign® First clear aligners compared to tooth-borne Hyrax-type maxillary expander on palatal morphology in growing subjects using 3D technology. This two-arm parallel-group randomized prospective clinical trial will include patients with: indications for maxillary expansion treatment, age between 6 and 10 years old, mixed dentition, good standard of oral hygiene, good compliance during treatment as assessed by the practitioner. Patients will be assigned to one of two expansion methods (arm A: Invisalign® First clear aligners, arm B: tooth-borne Hyrax-type maxillary expander) according to a computer-generated randomization list shortly before the start of expansion Primary outcome measure will be the change in palatal morphology (palatal volume and surface area variations). Secondary outcomes will be: arch dimensions (upper inter-canine width, upper inter-molar width, anterior segment length, posterior segment length), complications, patients' satisfaction and periodontal health. Due to the nature of the intervention blinding will not be possible. Potential statistical differences between the two intervention groups will be evaluated.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
40
Subjects in this arm will be instructed to wear aligners 24h/day for entire duration of the therapy. They will be asked to remove their retainers only while eating, drinking (except water), or cleaning. At the time of appliance delivery, both written and verbal oral hygiene instructions were given, including methods for cleaning appliances themselves. Also, written informed consent were obtained for each patient or the parents.
The expansion protocol was one quarter-turn twice a day (0.45 mm activation per day) until overcorrection with the maxillary lingual cusps contacting the mandibular buccal cusps. The expander was left passively for retention for a minimum of 6 months. At the time of appliance delivery, both written and verbal oral hygiene instructions were given, including methods for cleaning appliances themselves. Also, written informed consent were obtained for each patient or the parents.
University of Turin
Turin, Italy
Palate morphology
The primary outcome will be to evaluate the changes in palatal morphology after the treatment of maxillary deficiencies using two different therapies and to re-evaluate changes over the initial 12-months after the end of the treatment. The changes in palatal morphology are defined as the variation in palatal volume and surface. These will be measured from digitized study models within the boundaries of the palate, the gingival and distal planes, defined as follow. The gingival plane will be created by connecting the midpoints of the dentogingival junction of all upper erupted deciduous and permanent teeth. The distal plane will be created through two points at the distal of the first upper permanent molars perpendicular to the gingival plane.
Time frame: 12 months
Upper inter-canine width (ICW)
Upper inter-canine width (ICW) (secondary outcome measure) is the transverse distance between upper canines in millimeters.
Time frame: 12 months
Upper inter-molar width (IMW)
Upper inter-molar width (IMW) (secondary outcome measure) is the transverse distance between upper first molars in millimeters.
Time frame: 12 months
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