MARPE in Mount Pleasant, SC
MARPE, or miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion, widens the upper jaw in older teens and adults who are no longer candidates for traditional expanders. For some patients, MARPE provides a treatment option to help address a narrow upper jaw after growth has slowed. Some other reasons that this treatment may be recommended include:
- Correcting a crossbite
- Creating space for crowded teeth
- Widening a narrow upper jaw
- Improving how the upper and lower teeth fit together
- May improve nasal breathing
How MARPE Works
As we mature, the upper jaw becomes more resistant to widening, and traditional expanders anchored only to the teeth may tip the teeth rather than widen the jaw. MARPE uses small, temporary miniscrews placed in the roof of the mouth, so the expansion widens the jaw itself.
Treatment begins with a 3D scan, which we use to create a custom expander designed specifically for your mouth. The expander is bonded to your upper teeth, and a trusted surgeon we work closely with places the miniscrews using local anesthetic to keep you comfortable. Over the following weeks, you’ll turn the expander at home as directed, and our team will show you exactly how. After the desired width is reached, the expander remains in place for about 9 to 12 months to allow the result to stabilize.
