Maxillary expansion by nickel titanium palatal expander in cleft palate patient

Transverse expansion of the maxilla has been used by orthodontists for more than 100 years to correct maxillary anomalies. Rapid mechanical maxillary expansion procedures as presently employed, utilize large loads designed to produce a maximal skeletal repositioning with a minimum of individual tooth movement whereas tandem-loop nickel titanium NiTi, temperature-activated palatal expander with the ability to produce light, continuous pressure on the midpalatal suture. This case report describes the management of a 15-year-old girl with repaired cleft lip and palate, skeletal class III which exhibited mild maxillary deficiency. Dental examination revealed class I molar relation with reverse overjet, bilateral posterior crossbite, and constricted maxillary arch. A combination of various radiographs was used to diagnose and plan the treatment for maxillary expansion. The expander was assembled with bands as one unit and secured with elastic modules. During the 3 months study period, no other treatment was performed. An increase of 4 mm in intermolar width, 2 mm in intercanine width, and 4 mm in interpremolar width was achieved. The NiTi expander provides a viable alternative to rapid expansion for correction of transverse discrepancies.