A light and electron microscopic study of changes in intermaxillary suture during the rapid maxillary expansion of young adult dogs

Lee, Doo Hee; Chung, Kyu Rhim

Abstract

Rapid maxillary expansion is widely used for the correction of anteroposterior discrepancies, constriction of the maxillary arch, etc. This experiment was undertaken to examine the serial changes in the osteogenesis as well as the collagen fiber bundles in the intermaxillary suture during the rapid maxillary expansion treatment. Four young female dogs aged 6 to 8 months old and not showing menarche yet were used for the experiment. The maxillary impression of dogs were taken, expansion device cast and Hyrax screw soldered at the midline in the 1st premolar area. RME device was delivered to the dogs and the activation of 0.25mm per quarter-tum was done 2 times per day for 10 days until 5mm separation was made. Separation of the maxilla was confirmed by X ?ray. The animals were sacrificed on 0, 15, 30, 60 days from the finish of maxillary separation and preparations for light microscopy and surface electron microscopy were made. The sutures were cut into frontal serial sections for examination of the histological reactions. The following results were obtained and the conclusions made. 1. The edges of the two palatal plates bordering the midpalatal suture which at the beginning of the retention period were mainly composed of compact bone, underwent extensive resorption followed by new bone formation and gradually became spongy bone rich in bone marrow which in the 60 day retention animal became the compact bone with short intermaxillary suture space. During this transformation, newly formed trabecular bone tissues were added to the original margin. 2. Throughout the expansion period, the collagen fibers underwent successive changes such as stretching, loss of polarity, and finally fibrillogenesis. Towards the end of the expansion procedure, sharpey's fiber formation in newly formed bones were observed. 3. Bony spicules were found in the initial stage of retention on occlusal topographic X -rays, which later were confirmed to have ossified. 4. Judging from the histological changes occuring during the experimental expansion, excessive expansion will cause an excessive bleeding, and retard the remodeling of intermaxillary suture. According to the above results, the bone remodeling after rapid maxillary expansion was preceded by the migration of migratory cells into the intermaxillary suture area. The bone remodeling phenomena were on-going during the 2 months retention sample.