MARPE

For adults experiencing a narrow palate, crowded teeth, or airway restriction, a treatment known as MARPE (Miniscrew-Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion) is reshaping how we approach both orthodontics and sleep-related breathing concerns.

At Rebis Health, MARPE is part of a comprehensive airway treatment plan, guided by board-certified sleep physicians, orthodontic specialists, and airway-focused providers. Our approach focuses not only on dental alignment, but on improving breathing, sleep quality, and overall physiologic function.

Mountain peak during sunset with an orange sky, dark silhouettes of lower mountains, and clouds at the base.

What is MARPE?

MARPE is a non-surgical palatal expansion technique for adults that uses small, temporary skeletal anchors placed in the upper jaw to support a customized expansion device.

Over time, this device gently widens the maxilla (upper jaw), which may help improve:

Nasal Airway Space Breathing Efficiency Jaw Alignment Facial Structure and Balance

Why MARPE Is Changing Adult Orthodontics

Historically, adult palate expansion required surgical intervention (SARPE). Today, advances in imaging and orthodontic technology allow many adults to achieve skeletal expansion without surgery.

MARPE offers a minimally invasive alternative for patients seeking to improve both airway health and dental alignment, and is increasingly used in the treatment of sleep-disordered breathing and mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea.

Side facial anatomy diagram showing adult palatal expansion and airway structure for MARPE treatment at Rebis Health Colorado

Potential Benefits of MARPE

MARPE is often recommended for patients with airway-related concerns, narrow dental arches, or breathing dysfunction. Patients may experience improvements in:

Nasal breathing and airflow


Airway volume


Snoring and sleep quality


Dental crowding and bite alignment


Facial symmetry and development

When incorporated into a broader airway treatment plan, MARPE may help address underlying contributors to poor sleep, mouth breathing, and airway restriction.

Comprehensive Airway Evaluation and Treatment Planning

Airway dentist reviewing CBCT imaging for sleep apnea diagnosis at Rebis Health Colorado

Successful outcomes with MARPE depend on precise diagnostics and individualized planning.

At Rebis Health, each patient undergoes a comprehensive evaluation that may include:

  • CBCT imaging to assess airway structure and craniofacial anatomy

  • Sleep study analysis reviewed by sleep medicine physicians

  • Digital dental impressions

  • Nasal breathing and airflow assessment

  • Tongue posture and mobility evaluation

This approach allows our team to determine whether palatal expansion is appropriate and how it may support each patient’s breathing, sleep, and long-term health.

A Multidisciplinary Approach to Airway and Sleep Health

MARPE is part of a broader shift toward airway-focused and integrative orthodontics, where treatment is designed to support respiratory function, sleep physiology, and overall wellbeing.

At Rebis Health, care is delivered through a collaborative model that includes:

  • Sleep medicine physicians

  • Airway-trained orthodontic providers

  • Dental and craniofacial specialists

  • Integrative health practitioners

This coordinated approach allows us to address the structural and functional factors that influence breathing and sleep.

Dark bedroom environment illustrating sleep disruption treated with MARPE palatal expansion at Rebis Health Colorado

Care Designed Around Breathing and Sleep

Medically supervised airway-focused care

Board certified sleep medicine oversight

Orthodontic evaluation for airway and jaw development

Advanced diagnostics and personalized treatment planning

For many adults, improving sleep begins with improving how they breathe. MARPE offers a pathway to support both.

Frequently Asked Questions:

MARPE

  • MARPE (Miniscrew-Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion) is a non-surgical orthodontic treatment used to widen the upper jaw in adolescents and adults. By using small temporary anchors, MARPE allows for skeletal expansion of the palate, which may improve breathing, airway space, and dental alignment.

  • Yes, many adults are candidates for non-surgical palatal expansion using MARPE. Advances in orthodontic technology now allow for expansion of the upper jaw without the need for invasive jaw surgery in select patients.

  • The upper jaw forms the floor of the nasal cavity. When the palate is expanded, it can increase nasal airway space and reduce resistance to airflow. This may support more efficient breathing during both wakefulness and sleep.

  • MARPE may be used as part of a comprehensive approach to treating sleep-disordered breathing, including mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. It is typically combined with medical evaluation and airway-focused care to address underlying structural contributors.

  • Patients undergoing MARPE may experience improvements in nasal breathing, airway volume, sleep quality, and snoring. Additional benefits may include improved dental alignment, reduced crowding, and enhanced facial balance.

  • Most patients experience mild pressure or discomfort during the initial phase of expansion. This is generally temporary and tends to improve as the body adapts. MARPE is considered minimally invasive compared to surgical alternatives.

  • Candidacy depends on factors such as skeletal development, airway structure, and overall health. A comprehensive evaluation, including imaging and airway assessment, is necessary to determine whether MARPE is appropriate.

  • The active expansion phase typically occurs over several weeks, followed by a stabilization period to allow the bone to adapt. Total treatment time can vary depending on the individual treatment plan and whether additional orthodontic care is needed.

  • Rebis Health offers MARPE as part of a medically guided airway and sleep health program in Colorado. Care is delivered through a collaborative team including sleep physicians, orthodontic specialists, and airway-focused providers.