What Is MARPE?
MARPE, or Mini-Implant Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion, is an advanced orthodontic treatment designed to widen the upper jaw in teens and adults without traditional surgery. At Premier Orthodontics & Dental Specialists in Elmhurst and Downers Grove, Dr. Corina Radu expericenced Board Certified Orthodontist recommends MARPE to improve jaw structure, create space, and support better airway function.
About 60 percent of consequtive new patients walking through our doors present with transverse discrepancies, or narrow maxillary arches that were not expanded before completion of growth. When teeth are aligned without creating proper space, with clear aligners or braces, they end up being pushed forward, flared or tipped out with inability to close the lips, or lip incompetence. Clear aligners won’t fix it, traditional expanders, if done past completion of growth, will only tip teeth out even more and thin the bone over the roots exacerbating periodontal problems. We see narrow maxillary arches in patients presenting with crowding, crossbites, overbites, underbites, impactions, narrow smiles, dark buccal corridors, TMJ problems with grinding and most notoriously and troublesome, in patients that report mouth breathing , snoring airway concernes with lack of proper sleep and airway restriction.
MARPE or MSE Maxillary Skeletal Expansion allows for skeletal expansion even after growth has completed, making it an effective less invasive non-surgical option for our older teens and young adult patients.
MARPE is a specialized hybrid expander that uses small temporary implants (TADs’s) to anchor the appliance directly to the bone. This allows controlled expansion of the upper jaw rather than just moving the teeth. It is done based on a 3D intraoral scan and 3D CBCT that maps precisely the position, lenght and number of mini-implants needed for each particular patient.
Many of our patients as someone else’s finished cases, seeking re-treatment for many reasons. We’re here for you, no pressure, call 630-279-5345 Premier Orthodontics & Dental Specialists in Elmhurst and Downers Grove for a complimentary consultation.
What Are The Benefits Of MARPE?
MARPE offers several advantages compared to traditional expansion methods:
- Expands the jaw, without the need for major surgery
- Improves airway space and breathing, sometimes by 25%
- provides more stable widening rather than dental tipping, protecting the bone and soft tissue surrounding the roots of the teeth
- Creates room for proper tooth alignment, eliminating the need for IPR, aggressive interproximal stripping or permanent teeth extractions
- less invasive, done in office setting with local anesthesia and quick recovery
- Supports long-term stability
Who Is A Candidate For MARPE?
MARPE is typically recommended for teens and adults with a narrow upper jaw, crowding, crossbite, or airway concerns. It is also a great option for patients who want to avoid jaw surgery when possible.
A consultation with Dr. Corina Radu, Board Certified Orthodontist will determine if MARPE is the right option for your needs. We are ethical, trustworthy and highly skilled in treating interdisciplnary complex ortho-perio-surgical cases of patients of all ages.
How Does MARPE Work?
The MARPE appliance is secured using mini-implants placed in the upper jaw. Over time, gentle activation widens the jaw by applying controlled pressure.
This process allows for true skeletal expansion, which is not possible with traditional expanders in adults.
What Is The Difference Between MARPE, Traditional Expanders and SARPE?
Traditional expanders rely on tooth support and are most effective in growing children before the maxillary suture is closed. However, by the late teens or adulthood, the upper jaw fuses into a single bone, making it difficult to expand traditionally with Hyrax expanders. That’s where MARPE and SARPE come to the rescue, both are designed to widen the jaw in non-growing patients whose bones have matured.
MARPE or MSE uses skeletal anchorage, between 2-6 mini-implants placed in the bone, precisely mapped by using individual 3D CBCTs, making it effective for teens and young adult patients who have completed growth. This makes MARPE a preferred solution for mild to moderate expansion as a first-line, less invasive, alternative to surgical options, with faster recovery, mild discomfort and improved airway function, can help reduce snoring and symptoms of mild sleep apnea. However, there are some limitations, it may not work for all patients, and if the jaw is too narrow and rigid, we may recomend SARPE.
SARPE or Surgically Assisted Palatal Expansion is reserved for adults with severe jaw discrepancies and extreme narrowing and crowding of the upper teeth, providing skeletal widening rather than dental tipping. SARPE is the most predictable guaranteed expansion, done by skilled oral surgeons in outpatient/hospital settings, but it is a slightly more invasive surgical procedure, requiring a few weeks of recovery. Most likely in some cases the medical insurance will cover the SARPE procedure and one day hospitalization.
WHICH ONE IS RIGHT FOR YOU? Dr Corina Radu’s niche is adult interdisciplinary orthodontic treatment, she specializes in MARPE as a non-surgical, effective solution for teens and yound adults who need palatal expansion.
You will need an in person consultation to assess your unique needs and bite and help you select the right solution in order to achieve facial balance, harmony and a beautiful healthy, stable smile for years to come. Be treated by and experienced Board Certieid Orthodontist!
Frequently Asked Questions
MARPE is an advanced orthodontic treatment, and many patients have questions about how it works and what to expect. Here are some common questions to help you better understand the process.
Is MARPE A Surgical Procedure?
Not quite. MARPE is considered a non-surgical or minimally invasive procedure. We don’t need to sedate you, or raise a flap or cut through the gums, the mini-implants 2-4-6 that we select based on 3d CBCT, are gently inserted directly into the bone, allowing for true skeletal expansion without the need for traditional jaw surgery. This is done in the office, just like a baby tooth extraction. You will feel some temporary pressure, but very bearable.
Is MARPE Painful?
Most patients experience a feeling of pressure or tightness during activation, especially in the first few days and typical over the counter Ibbuprophen will help This is a normal part of the expansion process , as time goes by your body adjusts. There will be some space developing between the upper front teeth, however we perfected ways to mitigate that and reduce it while actively doing the expansion.
How Long Does MARPE Treatment Take?
The active expansion phase usually takes a few months, depending on your specific case. After that, a stabilization period allows the bone to adapt before continuing with orthodontic treatment such as traditional braces, hidden lingual braces orclear aligners like Invisalign®.
Will MARPE Change My Facial Appearance?
Yes, but in a natural and positive way. It will create space for crowded dentition, reduce black corridors, reduce the need for bone and gum grafting, interproximal reduction or extractions. Expanding the upper jaw will improve facial balance, widen the smile, and create better symmetry and most importantly it will improve airway function.
Can MARPE Replace Jaw Surgery?
In many cases, MARPE can reduce or eliminate the need for jaw surgery by creating the necessary space and correcting skeletal issues earlier. However, more severe cases may still require surgical treatment, which will be determined during your evaluation.