Target MOrth

Congratulations
Dr. Saria Ibrahim
Dr. Fatma Mostafa
For passing MOrth Part A Exams (RCSEd) @ Target MOrth Revision.

Wish you all the best in your next steps 🙂

📌Rapid palatal expansion (RPE) or Rapid Maxillary Expansion (RME)::
Is an expansion technique where expansion of 0.5mm to 1mm is achieved each day until the posterior crossbite is relieved.

The expander works by turning a key inside the center of the expander. The turn of this key will push the arms of the expander.

📌Amount of expansion::
Each patient presents with different malocclusion and will need different amount of expansion. It is a general rule to expand the maxilla to a point where the lingual cusp of maxillary molar teeth touch the buccal cusp of mandibular molar teeth.
Studies done decades ago by Krebs (1964), Stockfisch (1969) and Linder Aronson (1979) showed that about one-third to one-half of the expansion was lost before the expansion was eventually stabilized.

📌 Stability::
RPE usually remain in the patient's mouth anywhere between 3–6 months, This is often known as "six month retention period" during which the bone fills the gap in the maxilla that was created by the expansion process. To prevent any type of relapse, a retainer is given to the patient to keep the teeth in proper alignment.

RPE can be tooth supported, bone supported or both.