A maxillary skeletal expander (MSE) is essentially a palatal expander modified for adults.

What is MSE?

MSE 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. A narrow maxilla is a risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), gum recession and bone loss around the teeth

Conventional maxillary expanders, also known as palatal expanders, are commonly used 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. MSE is innovative because it extends this timeline by directly connecting the expander to the palatal bone. MSE can be effective for young adults whose suture has already fused.

How does MSE work?

MSE works by widening the maxillary bone, thereby increasing the volume of the nasal and oral cavities. This decreases nasal airway resistance and gives the tongue space to sit upwards and forwards in the mouth, making the airway larger.

The process is achieved by placing a custom-made expander along with 4-6 mini-screws along the midpalatal suture. The procedure typically lasts between 30-45 minutes under local anesthesia. Pain is minimal and can be managed with over the counter pain medicine for 1-4 days. Patients typically feel a slight tingling sensation around their nose when the expander is inserted and sometimes when they activate the expander. After a few minutes, this feeling should go away!

The process is achieved by placing a custom-made expander along with 4-6 mini-screws along the midpalatal suture. The procedure typically lasts between 30-45 minutes under local anesthesia. Pain is minimal and can be managed with over the counter pain medicine for 1-4 days. Patients typically feel a slight tingling sensation around their nose when the expander is inserted and sometimes when they activate the expander. After a few minutes, this feeling should go away!

After installation the patient will use a special key to activate the expander every day for 4-6 weeks.

The expander will split the suture, and a gap will form between the front teeth. Orthodontic treatment with braces, invisalign, or inbrace will close the gap and help achieve a stable bite. The expander will remain in place until the new bone at the suture forms in about 6 months.

Why consider MSE?

MSE allows us to widen the maxilla of patients that traditionally required jaw surgery. This increases the demographics of patients that can benefit from non-surgical maxillary expansion. Also, MSE benefits from fewer side effects compared to a conventional expander.

MSE uses mini-screws to directly apply forces to the midpalatal suture, whereas conventional expanders use teeth as anchor units.

MSE avoids undesirable tooth movement and attains greater bone expansion while minimizing dental side effects. This results in maximum airflow to reduce symptoms of OSA.

Benefits of Maxillary Skeletal Expansion:

Am I a Good Candidate for MSE?

Every mouth is different but you may be a good candidate for maxillary skeletal expansion if:

Interested in Learning More About MSE?

Think you might be a candidate for maxillary skeletal expansion? Request an appointment at Berger Orthodontics in Arvada, CO today. Dr. Berger and his team will be happy to evaluate your situation and find the best solution that suits your needs so that you can smile and breathe with confidence and ease.