Seubert, Brandon2020-09-082020-09-082020-06https://hdl.handle.net/11299/216059University of Minnesota M.S. thesis. June 2020. Major: Dentistry. Advisor: Thortsen Gruenheid. 1 computer file (PDF); vi, 41 pages.Introduction: Rapid maxillary expansion (RME) is a common procedure in adolescents to correct transverse discrepancies. Identifying and studying growth of easily identifiable skeletal landmarks associated with the maxilla could be helpful in RME research. Understanding how these structures change in the transverse dimension with growth and establishing transverse dimension norms may be valuable for clinicians when diagnosing and treatment planning. Aim: To quantify the annual transverse change between the lateral margins of the greater palatine foramina, lateral walls of the nasal cavity and the lateral margins of the infraorbital foramina during growth in an effort to determine if these anatomical landmarks are suitable for estimating the amount of skeletal expansion with RME treatment. Materials and Methods: Measurements on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans taken on 100 patients (50 male, 50 female) before and after orthodontic treatment were used to determine the transverse dimension between greater palatine foramina (GPFd), the nasal cavity (NCd), and the infraorbital foramina (IOFd). Results: Change per year for GPFd, NCd, and IOFd were statistically significant overall and for each gender. Males had more change per year than females for GPFd and IOFd but not NCd. Conclusions: GPFd, NCd, and IOFd changed during peak growth and are not stable landmarks to quantify precise skeletal expansion after RME; however, the amount these landmarks change with growth is consistent and predictable.enThesis or Dissertation