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Slow maxillary expansion is a technique used to achieve correction of maxillary transverse deficiency or posterior crossbite in patients where the midpalatal suture has closed. This is mostly achieved by buccal tipping of maxillary posterior teeth. The aim of this case report is to discuss the orthodontic treatment of a 20-year-old patient with bilateral posterior crossbite. The patient had moderate maxillary crowding and severe mandibular crowding, crossbites bilaterally on his posterior teeth, and maxillary lateral incisors. The patient had thin gingival biotype with gingival recession on the mandibular right canine. Orthodontic treatment was done with full fixed appliances, and extraction of a mandibular right lateral incisor. This case report shows that slow maxillary expansion can be used in an adult to achieve the objectives set by both the orthodontist and patient while also considering treatment modalities most agreeable to the patient. Key words: Orthodontic treatment, slow maxillary expansion, maxillary expansion, RPE, Hyrax expander, case report., Competing Interests: The authors declare there is no conflict of interests., (Copyright: © 2024 Medicina Oral S.L.)

Background: This study evaluates the remineralization potential of enamel after bioactive glass (BAG) air abrasion, using Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy Analysis (SEM-EDS), Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA), and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)., Material and Methods: Forty extracted human third molars were divided into four groups with ten samples each. Three groups were subjected to a demineralizing solution of 2.2 mM calcium chloride, 2.2 mM monopotassium phosphate, and 0.05 mM acetic acid, adjusted to a pH of 4.4 using 1 M potassium hydroxide at an intraoral temperature of 37°C for 96 hours. Of the three groups, two were subjected to air abrasion with BAG. One of the air abrasion groups was then further remineralized in 1.5 mM calcium chloride, 0.9 mM sodium phosphate, and 0.15 M potassium chloride, adjusted to a pH of 7.0 at 37°C. The teeth were then evaluated via SEM-EDS and EPMA to measure the calcium-to-phosphorous (Ca:P) ratios, and the surface morphology was investigated using AFM., Results: A measurable decrease in the Ca:P ratio was found after demineralization, which subsequently increased after remineralization. A thin layer of demineralized enamel was removed by the BAG air abrasion. AFM image analysis showed the presence of pits on the surface, which decreased in depth after demineralization, and further after BAG abrasion. Remineralized samples, in contrast, showed a slight increase in pit depth. While the observation of remineralization was statistically significant throughout our study, we could not find any evidence for BAG retention on the surface of the enamel., Conclusions: It is demonstrated that BAG, when delivered via air abrasion, indeed contributes to remineralization of the enamel; however, it does not seem to be a direct result of the presence of retained glass beads on the enamel surface. Given the increase of the Ca:P ratio after remineralization, a possible therapeutic benefit was observed, potentially reducing the probability of fractures in weakened enamel. Key words: Enamel, Demineralization, Remineralization, White Spot Lesions, Bioactive Glass, Air Abrasion, Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy, Electron Probe Microanalysis, Atomic Force Microscopy, Ca:P ratio, surface morphology., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest None declared., (Copyright: © 2023 Medicina Oral S.L.)