Impact of rapid maxillary expansion on mouth-breathing children and adolescents: A systematic review.

This review shows that RME promotes the enlargement of dental arches and of the nasal and maxillary structures, with improved mouth breathing in the short term. However, its long-term benefits could not be proved so far. More robust results of the effectiveness of RME in mouth breathing can be achieved with meta-analysis studies, with a consensual definition of the long-term follow-up period after RME. Child, adolescent, maxillary expansion, palatal expansion, mouth breathing.