Patients with narrow palate and sleep disordered breathing (SDB) undergo nasomaxillary expansion which has been shown to improve the severity of SDB through multiple mechanisms. This study investigated the effectiveness of the Maxillary Skeletal Expansion (MSE) in altering the dimensions of the nasal cavity, zygomatic bone, and first molar width, as well as improving nasal inhalation in patients aged 18 years and younger with narrow maxillary width. The participants were also asked to complete both a binary questionnaire and a rating scale assessment to evaluate the quality of their sleep and breathing, both before and after the treatment. Significant improvements were noted in nasal width, maxillary first molar width, and nasal inhalation capacity. A positive correlation was observed between the increase in nasal width and maxillary first molar width. Notably, nasal inhalation showed continued improvement during the 1-year maintenance period. Moreover, a significant decrease (P < .01) in reports of morning mouth dryness was observed by questionnaire results, suggesting improved nocturnal nasal breathing posttreatment. MSE is effective in enhancing maxillary dimensions and reducing nasal airway resistance in young patients. Its application is recommended for treating lateral maxillary deficits and improving physiological treatment outcomes in patients with narrow nasal airways. The study also highlights that the Peak Nasal Inspiratory Flow (PNIF) device can be effectively used to assess the skeletal expansion of the nasal cavity. In addition, the study demonstrates that Maxillary Skeletal Expansion (MSE) positively impacts nocturnal nasal breathing, as indicated by a reduction in morning mouth dryness among young patients.

Dr. Hong has completed her dental training at Harvard University and postgraduate studies in orthodontics from UCLA. She is a Professor in the Division of Orthodontics at the UCSF School of Densitry. She currently serves as the Chairman and Program Director of UCSF Orthodontics. Dr. Hong is extensively involved in basic, translational, and clinical research and has received numerous awards from the AAOF, Cleft Palate Foundation, and NIH. She currently serves as an editor for PCxSO and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics.