Semester

Spring

Date of Graduation

2005

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

College

School of Dentistry

Department

Not Listed

Committee Chair

Peter Ngan.

Abstract

The relationship between nasal airway resistance and rapid palatal expansion remains controversial. The purpose of this study is to determine the anatomical changes within the nasal cavity following expansion using conventional tomography. Nineteen patients (ages 8--15) were included in the study. Tomograms were taken before expansion, immediately after expansion, and three months later. Areas for the left and right anterior, middle and posterior nasal cavity and total volume were calculated using computer software (AutoCAD LT 2005). Data was analyzed using paired t-tests. Significant increases in area were found in the anterior, middle and posterior nasal cavity at all time periods. Significant increases in volume were also found. No significant differences were found in the area or volume of the left and right sides of the nasal cavity. These data suggest that an increase in area and volume of the nasal cavity occurs with RPE and remains three months after expansion.

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