Maxillary constriction causes nasal septum deviation and deformity of the nasal floor

IntroductionWe investigated the direct effect of transverse maxillary constriction on nasal septal deviation (NSD) and nasal floor slanting. Methods and Materials60 growing Wistar rats (21days old) were divided into four groups (n=15): 1) Experimental Group 1 received active constriction force (100cN), 2) Experimental Group 2 received active expansion force (100cN), 3) Sham received the same spring as Experimental Groups without receiving any active force, and 4) Control group did not receive any appliance. Samples were collected after 28 days for microcomputed tomography (CT) analysis. ResultsExperimental Group 1 demonstrated maxillary constriction (both skeletal and dental), accompanied by mandibular shift on closure, clockwise mandibular rotation, and increased mandibular plane angle and facial height. Constriction also produced severe nasal floor slanting in the molar area that extended posteriorly. Nasal floor canting was accompanied by a slanted vomer and a C-shaped NSD. The direction of nasal floor canting and mandibular shift was always similar. Experimental Group 2, on the other hand, was not associated with nasal deviation, and a slight slanting of the nasal floor was observed only when there was a mandibular shift. ConclusionOur study suggests that the constricting transverse forces applied to the maxilla can induce slanting of the nasal floor and, consequently, the vomer, which in turn can lead to nasal septal deviation. Slanting of the nasal floor is caused mainly by rotation of the hemimaxilla in response to transverse forces and changes in occlusal forces due to a mandibular shift.