Evaluation of the airway after rapid maxillary expansion in patients aged 7-10 years. Literature review

Abstract

Introduction. The growth of the jaws is influenced by mouth breathing or other habits during infancy. Rapid maxillary expansion is an orthodontic procedure that seeks to correct malocclusion problems and improve the growth and size of the airways. Objective. From an academic point of view, this systematic review aims to examine the effects of rapid maxillary expansion on the airway in children 7-10 years of age. Methodology. The literature was searched in digital databases such as PubMed, Epistemonikos, Dialnet, Ovid, ProQuest, Lilacs, Web of Science, Springer. The search was restricted to articles in English, Spanish and Portuguese published from 2018 to 2022. Results. After applying the inclusion criteria, a total of 965 articles were obtained and reviewed. The literature review was performed on 19 articles that met the inclusion criteria and had adequate evidence to be incorporated in the review. Conclusion. The available literature revealed that rapid expansion of the maxilla at ages 7-10 improves the passage of air into the nasal cavity by increasing the length of the upper airway.