Incorporation of Stress-Dependency in the Modeling of Midpalatal Suture Behavior During Maxillary Expansion Treatment

In order to widen a patient’s upper jaw, or maxilla, orthodontists will make use of a maxillary expansion (ME) appliance. This procedure is typically used in adolescents having a narrow maxillary complex. Widening the jaw may be achieved through a variety of means such as expansion screws or springs [1]; however, they are all utilized to generate additional space allowing for correction of various tooth misalignments. An example of a common appliance is provided in Fig. 1a.