Miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE) is an effective non-surgical and non-extraction treatment approach for expanding the upper jaw, known as the maxilla.
A narrow maxilla is associated with nasal obstruction, crowded teeth, and hindered facial development. These features are one of the characteristics of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Conventional maxillary expander treatments are common to treat narrow maxilla. However, these are limited to children because the suture holding the maxillary bone together (known as the midpalatal suture) fuses around 12-15 years of age. MARPE is innovative because it extends this timeline by directly connecting the expander to the palatal bone. MARPE can be effective for young adults whose suture has already fused.
