Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the dentoalveolar effects of rapid maxillary expansion in children with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate in comparison with non-cleft patients. Methods: The experimental group (EG) was composed of 25 patients with unilateral and complete cleft lip and palate (9 males and 15 females) with a mean age of 10.6 years. The control group (CG) comprised of 27 patients without cleft lip and palate (14 males and 13 females) with a mean age of 9.1 years. Dental models of the maxillary dental arch were obtained immediately preexpansion (T1) and 6 months post-expansion (T2) at the time of appliance removal. Digital dental models were obtained using the 3Shape R700 3D laser scanner (3Shape A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark). Transversal widths, arch perimeter, arch length, palatal depth, palatal volume, canine and posterior tooth inclination were digitally measured. Paired t-test was used to perform interphase comparisons and independent t-test to perform intergroup comparisons (p<0.05). Results: In the experimental group, the expansion produced a ignificant increase of all maxillary transverse measurements, palatal volume, arch perimeter and palatal depth while decreased the arch length. RME caused a buccal tip of posterior teeth in patients with UCLP. No differences were observed between experimental and control groups for all the measurements performed except for the intermolar distance (6-6), which showed a greater increase in patients with cleft. Conclusion: Rapid maxillary expansion showed similar dentoalveolar effects in children with UCLP and without oral clefts.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the dentoalveolar effects of rapid maxillary expansion in children with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate in comparison with non-cleft patients. Methods: The experimental group (EG) was composed of 25 patients with unilateral and complete cleft lip and palate (9 males and 15 females) with a mean age of 10.6 years. The control group (CG) comprised of 27 patients without cleft lip and palate (14 males and 13 females) with a mean age of 9.1 years. Dental models of the maxillary dental arch were obtained immediately preexpansion (T1) and 6 months post-expansion (T2) at the time of appliance removal. Digital dental models were obtained using the 3Shape R700 3D laser scanner (3Shape A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark). Transversal widths, arch perimeter, arch length, palatal depth, palatal volume, canine and posterior tooth inclination were digitally measured. Paired t-test was used to perform interphase comparisons and independent t-test to perform intergroup comparisons (p<0.05). Results: In the experimental group, the expansion produced a ignificant increase of all maxillary transverse measurements, palatal volume, arch perimeter and palatal depth while decreased the arch length. RME caused a buccal tip of posterior teeth in patients with UCLP. No differences were observed between experimental and control groups for all the measurements performed except for the intermolar distance (6-6), which showed a greater increase in patients with cleft. Conclusion: Rapid maxillary expansion showed similar dentoalveolar effects in children with UCLP and without oral clefts.