This systematic review assessed the effects of tooth-borne (TB), tooth-bone-borne (TBB) and bone-borne (BB) micro-implant assisted rapid maxillary expansion (RPE) on airway dimensions and function in young children and adolescents (10- to 17-years-old).

Unrestricted search in 5 electronic databases until June 6th, 2020 was undertaken. This was supplemented with search in 6 additional resources for published, unpublished and ongoing trials up. Randomized (RCT) and non-randomized (Non-RCT) prospective studies that assessed the influence of the mini-screw-assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE) approach on airway and breathing in young children and adolescents were included. Two reviewers performed the study selection and data extraction blindly and in duplicate by two authors while disagreements. A random-effects model with a 95% confidence interval (CI), I2 and Chi² tests were done. ROBINS-I, Cochrane Risk of Bias and GRADE tools were used. Reporting of this review was based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Overall, 518 articles were retrieved; only 3 studies (2 RCT and one non-RCT) met the inclusion criteria. Both TB RPE and BB RPE improved on a short-term basis the dimensions of the airway, though the difference was not significant (P>0.05). TBB RPE significantly improved nasal airflow [(Mean difference (MD) 52.7 cm³/s, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 9.0–96.4), P=0.020)], reduced nasal resistance (MD −0.20Pa/cm³, 95% (−0.38)–(−0.02), P=0.028), and changed respiratory muscle strength variables (P>0.05). No correlation was found between the anatomical dimensions of the airway and the functional airway parameters (P>0.05).

The short-term airway volumetric changes secondary to MARPE were not significant. The influence of MARPE appliances on breathing is still not clear. Registration PROSPERO database (CRD42020183340).