{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,31]],"date-time":"2025-12-31T17:06:05Z","timestamp":1767200765490,"version":"3.48.0"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,31]],"date-time":"2025-12-31T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1767139200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Children"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Objectives: The aim of the current study was to evaluate changes in olfactory sensitivity with Sniffin\u2019 Sticks\u00ae (Burghart Messtechnik, Germany) in patients undergoing palatal expansion. Methods: The study sample consisted of 20 patients enrolled from the Department of Paediatric Dentistry (0\u201314 years old) at the Policlinico of Rome \u201cTor Vergata\u201d, according to the following inclusion criteria: negative posterior transverse interarch discrepancy \u2265 4 mm, mixed dentition phase with first permanent molars erupted and prepubertal skeletal maturation stage (CS1-2), evaluated on a lateral radiograph through the Cervical Vertebral Maturation (CVM) method. Each patient underwent a dental examination, orthopantomography and lateral cephalometric X-rays were requested, and dental impressions were taken using digital scanner. Every patient was treated with maxillary rapid expander and underwent ear, nose, and throat (ENT) assessment before and after treatment. Moreover, questionnaires before and after treatment to obtain a subjective assessment of their olfactory perception were given to all participants. Results: About odor identification, the analyses revealed an increase in mean scores of 1.28; however, this change, although slight, did not reach statistical significance (Z = \u22121.85; p = 0.064). In contrast, about odor discrimination, the test results indicated a statistically significant increase in the children\u2019s scores of 3.41 (Z = \u22122.87; p &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: This study supports the hypothesis that rapid maxillary expansion (RME) can improve olfactory function by enhancing nasal airway dimensions and airflow. Further studies are required to confirm these results.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/children13010061","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,31]],"date-time":"2025-12-31T16:34:23Z","timestamp":1767198863000},"page":"61","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Rapid Maxillary Expansion and Olfactory Function in Growing Subjects"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Arianna","family":"Malara","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Paediatric Dentistry (0\u201314 Years Old), Policlinico of Rome \u201cTor Vergata\u201d, 00133 Roma, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Giordano Angelo","family":"Pucci","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Paediatric Dentistry (0\u201314 Years Old), Policlinico of Rome \u201cTor Vergata\u201d, 00133 Roma, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Riccardo","family":"Maurizi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Translational Medicine, Otolaryngology, University of Rome \u201cTor Vergata\u201d, 00133 Roma, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Stefano","family":"Di Girolamo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Translational Medicine, Otolaryngology, University of Rome \u201cTor Vergata\u201d, 00133 Roma, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Paolo","family":"Maturo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Rome \u201cTor Vergata\u201d, 00133 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7671-6505","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alessia Vincenza","family":"Brescia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Paediatric Dentistry (0\u201314 Years Old), Policlinico of Rome \u201cTor Vergata\u201d, 00133 Roma, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Raffaella","family":"Docimo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Paediatric Dentistry (0\u201314 Years Old), Policlinico of Rome \u201cTor Vergata\u201d, 00133 Roma, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Rome \u201cTor Vergata\u201d, 00133 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Giuseppina","family":"Lagan\u00e0","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Paediatric Dentistry (0\u201314 Years Old), Policlinico of Rome \u201cTor Vergata\u201d, 00133 Roma, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Life, Health, and Health Professions Sciences, Link Campus University, 00165 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,31]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"258","DOI":"10.1093\/ejo\/cjy055","article-title":"Geometric morphometric analysis of the palatal morphology in growing subjects with skeletal open bite","volume":"41","author":"Paoloni","year":"2019","journal-title":"Eur. J. Orthod."},{"key":"ref_2","first-page":"38","article-title":"Caries prevalence in a 7-to 15-year-old Albanian schoolchildren population","volume":"3","author":"Fabi","year":"2012","journal-title":"Ann. Stomatol."},{"key":"ref_3","first-page":"431","article-title":"The impact of rapid palatal expansion on children\u2019s general health: A literature review","volume":"15","author":"Eichenberger","year":"2014","journal-title":"Eur. J. Paediatr. Dent."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1618","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijporl.2014.07.006","article-title":"N-butanol olfactory threshold and nasal patency before and after palatal expansion in children","volume":"78","author":"Ottaviano","year":"2014","journal-title":"Int. J. Pediatr. Otorhinolaryngol."},{"key":"ref_5","first-page":"471","article-title":"Dimensional changes in the palate associated with slow maxillary expansion for early treatment of posterior crossbite","volume":"40","author":"Bukhari","year":"2018","journal-title":"Angle Orthod."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2429","DOI":"10.1007\/s00405-025-09336-6","article-title":"Changes in olfactory function of adults following surgically assisted maxillary expansion","volume":"282","author":"Chao","year":"2025","journal-title":"Eur. Arch. Otorhinolaryngol."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"90","DOI":"10.5577\/intdentres.435","article-title":"Evaluation of olfactory threshold changes in patients treated with rapid maxillary expansion","volume":"12","author":"Erdur","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int. Dent. Res."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"923","DOI":"10.1177\/1945892421995350","article-title":"The Impact of Maxillary Expansion on Adults\u2019 Nasal Breathing: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis","volume":"35","author":"Lechien","year":"2021","journal-title":"Am. J. Rhinol. Allergy"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"95","DOI":"10.4041\/kjod24.102","article-title":"Long-term structural and functional nasomaxillary evolution of children with mouth-breathing after rapid maxillary expansion: An 8-year follow-up study","volume":"55","author":"Satto","year":"2025","journal-title":"Korean J. Orthod."},{"key":"ref_10","first-page":"293","article-title":"[Olfactory sensitivity in adenoid hyperplasia]","volume":"71","author":"Delank","year":"1992","journal-title":"Laryngorhinootologie"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"417","DOI":"10.1016\/S0889-5406(96)70045-8","article-title":"Role of posterior transverse interarch discrepancy in Class II, Division 1 malocclusion during the mixed dentition phase","volume":"110","author":"Tollaro","year":"1996","journal-title":"Am. J. Orthod. Dentofac. Orthop."},{"key":"ref_12","first-page":"316","article-title":"An improved version of the cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) method for the assessment of mandibular growth","volume":"72","author":"Baccetti","year":"2002","journal-title":"Angle Orthod."},{"key":"ref_13","first-page":"490","article-title":"Use of a modified butterfly expander to increase anterior arch length","volume":"37","author":"Cozza","year":"2003","journal-title":"J. Clin. Orthod. JCO"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lagan\u00e0, G., Paoloni, V., Pavoni, C., Palmacci, D., and Malara, A. (2023). Tridimensional Changes in Mandibular Arch after Rapid Maxillary Expansion Therapy: A Clinical Study. Children, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/children10050775"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"237","DOI":"10.1007\/s00405-006-0173-0","article-title":"Normative data for the \u201cSniffin\u2019 Sticks\u201d including tests of odor identification, odor discrimination, and olfactory thresholds: An upgrade based on a group of more than 3,000 subjects","volume":"264","author":"Hummel","year":"2007","journal-title":"Eur. Arch. Otorhinolaryngol."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"114","DOI":"10.1097\/01.mlg.0000246518.79894.7e","article-title":"Normative values of olfactory function testing using the \u2018sniffin\u2019 sticks","volume":"117","author":"Katotomichelakis","year":"2007","journal-title":"Laryngoscope"},{"key":"ref_17","first-page":"279","article-title":"Testing the sense of smell using validated procedures","volume":"98","author":"Damm","year":"2004","journal-title":"Z. Arztl. Fortbild. Qual."},{"key":"ref_18","unstructured":"Passali, G.C. (2008). Refertazione ed Interpretazione dei Tracciati in ORL, TorGraf."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1057","DOI":"10.1177\/0962280215588241","article-title":"Estimating the sample size for a pilot randomised trial to minimise the overall trial sample size for the external pilot and main trial for a continuous outcome variable","volume":"25","author":"Whitehead","year":"2016","journal-title":"Stat. Methods Med. Res."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"677","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1600-051X.2006.00968.x","article-title":"The efficacy of three different surgical techniques in the management of drug-induced gingival overgrowth","volume":"33","author":"Mavrogiannis","year":"2006","journal-title":"J. Clin. Periodontol."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"992","DOI":"10.1002\/lio2.485","article-title":"Olfaction: Sensitive indicator of inflammatory burden in chronic rhinosinusitis","volume":"5","author":"Yan","year":"2020","journal-title":"Laryngoscope Investig. Otolaryngol."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"112248","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijporl.2025.112248","article-title":"Rapid palate expansion\u2019s impact on nasal breathing: A systematic review","volume":"190","author":"Inchingolo","year":"2025","journal-title":"Int. J. Pediatr. Otorhinolaryngol."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"33","DOI":"10.1186\/s40510-015-0105-x","article-title":"The role of rapid maxillary expansion in the promotion of oral and general health","volume":"16","author":"McNamara","year":"2015","journal-title":"Prog. Orthod."},{"key":"ref_24","first-page":"111006","article-title":"Rapid maxillary expansion has a beneficial effect on nasal ventilation in children with nasal septal deviation: A computational fluid dynamics study","volume":"155","author":"Chen","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int. J. Pediatr. Otorhinolaryngol."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"133","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijporl.2018.09.029","article-title":"Nasal function before and after rapid maxillary expansion in children: A randomized, prospective, controlled study","volume":"115","author":"Ottaviano","year":"2018","journal-title":"Int. J. Pediatr. Otorhinolaryngol."},{"key":"ref_26","first-page":"43","article-title":"Nasal Airway Resistance and Latent Lower Airway Involvement in Allergic Rhinitis","volume":"68","author":"Iyer","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Assoc. Physicians India"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"104934","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jdent.2024.104934","article-title":"Medium-term effects of rapid maxillary expansion on nasal cavity and pharyngeal airway volumes considering age as a factor: A retrospective study","volume":"144","author":"Ronsivalle","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Dent."}],"container-title":["Children"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2227-9067\/13\/1\/61\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,31]],"date-time":"2025-12-31T17:02:19Z","timestamp":1767200539000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2227-9067\/13\/1\/61"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,31]]},"references-count":27,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1]]}},"alternative-id":["children13010061"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/children13010061","relation":{},"ISSN":["2227-9067"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2227-9067","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,31]]}}}