Surgically Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion (aka SARPE)

What It Is and Who It Can Benefit

SARPE is a term for a dental procedure and tool that combines surgical and orthodontic techniques to help expand the maxillary arch. The procedure can be performed on adults as necessary, and is intended to help force the arch in your mouth to widen, which results in more comfortable teeth positioning and can help reduce the necessity of having teeth removed.

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How Does It Help?

Adult patients, who have a posterior crossbite, or upper teeth sit on the inside of the bottom teeth, can have this corrected with a surgically assisted rapid palatal expander (SARPE). The procedure works by utilizing a surgery to where the palate is separated just enough for an RPE device to be inserted and cemented around the back molars. Through use of a manual key, patients will need to widen the expander until it reaches the recommended width. This allows the gum tissue to stretch in order to accommodate the desired width.

At that point, patients will be instructed to leave the device in place with no change for around three months. During this time, the bones will heal and fuse together, allowing the jaw to retain this width permanently.

Who Can Benefit From SARPE

Posterior crossbites, crowded bites, and narrow arches in the mouth can cause a number of dental troubles, as well as inflict pain or discomfort in some cases. Dental expansion can help correct these issues, and leave patients with a more comfortable, natural-looking smile. Eligible patients will need to be in good general health and mentally and physically stable for surgery. During a consultation with Dr. Beaufils at his Cooper City office, patients discuss all medical history, as well as address any questions or concerns they may have regarding the procedure.

Because the RPE appliances forces the jaw apart down the middle, a gap will often appear in between the two front teeth. In many cases, patients wish to correct this, which require additional orthodontic work, such as braces or invisalign. Once the three months have passed and the RPE device can be removed, your orthodontists can get started on the next steps to perfecting your smile.

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Improve Your Entire Appearance

Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you. It is not uncommon to wish to correct any imperfections in order to achieve a flawless, radiant smile. At Beaufils Dental, we offer a myriad of quality dental services ranging from orthodontics to cosmetic dentistry. Patients who wish to learn more about surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion or other maxillary treatments are invited to contact our office at 954-252-1390 to schedule an appointment.