Effects of clear aligner-based expansion screw and nickel-titanium palatal expander on airway dimensions and sleep parameters in unilateral cleft lip and palate patients: a randomized clinical trial.

Riddhi Bansal, Puneet Batra, Nikita Mohelay, Aditya Talwar, Ashish Kumar Singh

Abstract readRandomized Controlled TrialComparative Study

In one paragraph

Trial report in Sleep & breathing = Schlaf & Atmung, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Riddhi BansalDepartment of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Manav Rachna Dental College, SDS, MRIIRS, Haryana, Faridabad, India.

Puneet BatraPro Vice-Chancellor, Principal & Head, Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Manav Rachna Dental College, SDS, MRIIRS, Haryana, Faridabad, India.

Nikita MohelayDepartment of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Manav Rachna Dental College, SDS, MRIIRS, Haryana, Faridabad, India. drnikitamohelay@gmail.com.ORCID 0000-0002-6257-825X

Aditya TalwarDepartment of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Manav Rachna Dental College, SDS, MRIIRS, Haryana, Faridabad, India.

Ashish Kumar SinghDepartment of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Manav Rachna Dental College, SDS, MRIIRS, Haryana, Faridabad, India.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThis study compared the outcomes of clear aligner-based expansion screw (CAE) and nickel-titanium palatal expanders in mixed dentition patients with elevated sleep questionnaire scores.

methodsA randomized clinical trial was conducted on 24 UCLP patients presenting with transverse maxillary deficiency and elevated sleep questionnaire scores. Participants were allocated to treatment with either CAE or NiTi palatal expander. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and polysomnography (PSG) were performed before and after expansion. Changes in airway volume and sleep parameters were assessed. Correlation analyses were conducted to determine associations between expansion characteristics and airway or PSG outcomes.

resultsPre- and post-expansion Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) and polysomnography (PSG) showed that both modalities significantly improved pharyngeal airway volume and sleep parameters. Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in pharyngeal airway volume and PSG parameters. CBCT-based transverse measurements confirmed significant increases in intercanine width, intermolar width, basal bone width, and buccal tipping of molar in both groups, with group1 showing significantly greater gains in intercanine and intermolar width than group 2. Correlation analysis revealed statistically significant positive correlations between the change in intercanine width and increases in nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, and total pharyngeal airway volume, and between the change in intermolar width and oropharyngeal airway volume; no significant correlations were observed for J-J' width, basal bone width, or buccal tipping of molar with airway or PSG parameters. A statistically significant negative correlation was observed between skeletal expansion and Δ minimum SpO₂ in the NiTi group.

conclusionBoth CAE and NiTi palatal expanders significantly improved airway dimensions and sleep parameters in UCLP patients. Anterior transverse widening (intercanine and intermolar width) correlated positively with airway volume gains, whereas basal skeletal widening (J-J' width, basal bone width) and molar inclination did not, suggesting that the overall expansion effect rather than its mechanistic subtype may be the primary driver of functional benefit. Both appliances demonstrated comparable clinical effectiveness.

Indexed as

Cleft LipCleft PalateNickelOrthodontic Appliance DesignPalatal Expansion TechniqueSleep Apnea, ObstructiveTitaniumAdolescentChildCone-Beam Computed TomographyDentition, MixedFemaleHumansMalePharynxPolysomnographyNickelTitaniumtitanium nickelideClear alignersNiTi palatal expanderObstructive sleep apneaPharyngeal airway volumePolysomnographyUnilateral cleft lip and palate

Identifiers

PMID42799961

DOI10.2319/032015-174.1

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.