A prospective study of lip adaptation during six months of simulated mandibular dental arch expansion

The stability of dental arch expansion with conventional orthodontic treatments is disappointing. An increase in labial soft tissue pressure resulting from the expansion may contribute to this instability. An 8-month study of lip pressure changes resulting from lip bumper wear has been conducted, but no long-term studies have been conducted on pressure changes resulting from conventional expansion using fixed appliances. The purpose of the current study was to investigate changes in labial soft tissue pressures when conventional expansion was simulated. Twenty-two subjects wore a stent simulating mandibular dental arch expansion. They were instructed to wear the stent full-time. Lip pressure was recorded initially at 1 week, and monthly for 6 months. A repeated measures ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. A statistically significant (P < or = 0.05) increase in pressure was documented after initial insertion of the expansion-simulating stent. The increase was not maintained, suggesting an adaptation of the labial soft tissues.