Open Access

ARTICLE

Novel Unilateral Dental Expander Appliance (UDEX): A Compound Innovative Materials

by Hasan Sabah Hasan^1,*, Abdallah A. Abdallah², Imran Khan³, Hala Sadek Alosman⁴, Ayshan Kolemen⁵, Bilal Alhayani⁶

1 Department of Orthodontic, Khanzad Teaching Center, General Directorate of Hawler-Ministry of Health, Erbil, Iraq
2 Department of Industrial Engineering, German Jordanian University, Amman, Jordan
3 Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar, Pakistan
4 Department of Orthodontics, Near East University, Nicosia, North CYPRUS, Turkey
5 Orthodontic Department, Al-Mustaqbal University College, Babel, Iraq
6 Department of Electronics and communication, Yildiz Technical University, Turkey

* Corresponding Author: Hasan Sabah Hasan. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Wireless Sensors Networks Application in Healthcare and Medical Internet of Things (Miot) in Bio-Medical Sensors Networks)

Computers, Materials & Continua 2021, 68(3), 3499-3511. https://doi.org/10.32604/cmc.2021.015968

Received 16 December 2020; Accepted 11 March 2021; Issue published 06 May 2021

Abstract

True unilateral posterior crossbite in adults is a challenging malocclusion to treat, especially when we need to correct cross-arch segments with unwanted effects on non-cross segments. Conventional expansion methods are expected to have some shortcomings; the Unilateral dental expander appliance used to restore unilateral cross bite dental arch is an uncommon appliance; for this, a designed new device is needed. This paper aimed to invite a new unilateral dental expander appliance (UDEX) to treat unilateral dental posterior crossbite in adults using available dental material, easy to use and handle, well tolerated by the patient, and biocompatible with oral structure. It could find that in all dental markets and dental clinics—an eighteen-year-old female with bilateral crossbite and upper and lower dental arch crowding. During active orthodontic treatment, a quad-helix expander had broken from one side at soldering between band and wire attachment. The patient did not show up to the clinic for a while due to COVID 19 pandemic lockdown, leading to a true unilateral crossbite at the dental arch’s upper left side, especially at the molar premolars area. This unilateral cross bite was treated using a new specially designed expanded appliance as a unilateral posterior cross bite dental maxillary expander. As a result of this study, orthodontic treatment was finished within (15) months, much less than expected. We obtained Class I molar and canine relationships with uncrossed dental arches in both upper arch sides, proper overbite and overjet with well-leveled and aligned teeth as it confirmed by clinical examination and radiographic images (OPG (Orthopantomogram) and cephalometric radiograph (WebCeph analysis digitalized computer program). Conclude from that, the newly designed unilateral dental expander (UDEX) is proven to be useful for treating real unilateral posterior crossbites as single molar or premolar tooth and multiple joint unilateral crossed posterior teeth. Also, it could easily modify it for future unilateral crossed purposes. This appliance was fabricated using readily available dental material, well tolerated by patients, and reduced the need for excessive patient compliance. An orthodontist could fabricate devices, or cautious laboratory work is required; it can rapidly achieve favorable results.

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