Early Maxillary Expansion to Treat Severe Upper Front Teeth Crowding in Children Aged 6 to 16 A Randomized Controlled Study with 5-Year Follow-Up

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying children with severe anterior crowding of the upper front teeth to compare early treatment during mixed dentition with later treatment in permanent dentition. This trial aims to find out if early maxillary expansion reduces crowding after five years, improves oral health-related quality of life, causes lower dental arch adaptation, and is more cost-effective than later treatment. Children aged 6 to 9 with at least 6 millimeters of crowding and lateral incisors not fully erupted are eligible. Children in the experimental group receive a maxillary expansion device attached to specific baby teeth, which parents activate daily or every other day to create space for erupting teeth. The expansion may pause to allow spontaneous adjustment. The device is kept as a retainer until lateral incisors fully erupt. The control group receives no treatment during the observation period. Both groups attend follow-up visits over about five years, including questionnaires on pain, discomfort, and oral health quality of life. Participants undergo measurements using digital models and scans to assess changes in tooth alignment, arch width, and palatal volume. Questionnaires and cost analyses are completed to evaluate treatment impact and cost-effectiveness. Follow-ups occur at 24, 36, and 48 months, and after all permanent premolars erupt. The study measures include long-term tooth alignment, quality of life, morphological changes, complications, and costs over the five-year period.

Interceptive Maxillary Expansion to Relief Anterior Crowding in the Mixed Dentition