MARPE: A Palate Expander for Adults in Draper, Utah
Yes, adults can widen a narrow upper jaw. MARPE uses a gentle expander held in place by small anchors in the bone of the palate. At Toothpillow Breathing & Sleep Center, Dr. Jeff Buxton does it two ways: DOMEzero, a slow-expansion protocol paired with Spark clear aligners, or MASPE+, the same no-gap approach paired with AIRTHO airway aligners.
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A gentle expander, anchored with small anchors
Picture a small custom expander that sits against the roof of your mouth. Instead of pushing only on your teeth, it's held in place by a few tiny anchors placed into the bone of the palate. Because the force goes into the bone, the expander is designed to widen the upper jaw itself.
That's MARPE: miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion (some offices say mini-implant-assisted). MASPE, miniscrew-assisted slow palatal expansion, uses the same anchoring idea with slower, gentler activation. Both were developed so adults and older teens, whose palates have finished growing, have an expansion option that doesn't depend on jaw surgery.
- Anchored to bone, designed for skeletal expansion
- Minimally invasive, placed in the office
- Built for adults and older teens
Why adults ask us about palate expansion
A narrow upper jaw rarely shows up as just one problem. These are the patterns that bring adults in.
Narrow or high palate
A tight, vaulted roof of the mouth and a smile that looks narrow at the sides.
Crowding that came back
Teeth that shifted again after earlier orthodontic work, often because the arch was never wide enough.
Mouth breathing
A nose that always feels stuffy, or waking up with a dry mouth.
Snoring and poor sleep
Snoring, restless nights, or feeling exhausted after a full night in bed.
Jaw pain or clenching
TMJ tension, grinding, or headaches that keep coming back.
Crossbite
Upper back teeth that sit inside the lower teeth when you bite down.
It all starts with an airway consultation
Before anyone talks treatment, we get the full picture. Your consultation with Dr. Buxton includes:
- A 3D CBCT scan of the airway, jaws, and joints
- A digital intraoral scan (no goopy molds)
- Photos and a hands-on exam of breathing, tongue, and bite
- A plain-language walkthrough of what we see and what your options are
Airway consultation: {$350 for kids and adults}
Is your palate a candidate? The scan tells us.
Every adult palate is different, and the only way to know whether MARPE fits is to look. At your airway consultation in Draper, Dr. Buxton reviews a 3D CBCT scan of your jaws and airway, a digital intraoral scan, and photos.
The CBCT shows the width of your upper jaw, the thickness of the palatal bone where anchors would go, and the space in your nasal and throat airway. For most adults, we start with an at-home sleep test so the plan reflects how you actually breathe at night.
- 3D CBCT imaging of bone and airway
- Digital scans, no goopy molds
- Sleep data before we plan treatment
Our adult airway protocol, step by step
Expansion is one part of a bigger plan, and the order matters.
Sleep test
Most adults start with a home sleep test so we understand your breathing at night.
Airway consultation
3D CBCT imaging, digital scans, and a one-on-one review of your findings with Dr. Buxton.
Expansion with DOMEzero or MASPE+
A custom bone-anchored expander is placed and activated gradually, with clear aligners managing your teeth from the start: Spark aligners with DOMEzero, or AIRTHO airway aligners with MASPE+.
Clear aligners
Your clear aligners guide your teeth into the new space and refine your bite.
Soft palate laser, if needed
QuietNite laser treatment of the soft palate, designed to reduce snoring, can be added at any point.
Meet DOMEzero and MASPE+, Dr. Buxton's approaches to adult expansion
Traditional MARPE is known for one thing patients dread: a noticeable gap that opens between the front teeth as the palate widens. It closes later, but many adults put off treatment because of it.
Dr. Buxton uses the DOMEzero protocol, developed as an evolution of MARPE techniques. It keeps the bone anchors, slows the activation down, and adds clear aligners from day one. The aligners manage your front teeth while the palate widens, so you can avoid the big gap and keep working, smiling, and living normally during treatment.
DOMEzero is always done with Spark clear aligners. When AIRTHO airway-oriented aligners are the better fit, Dr. Buxton uses the same slow, bone-anchored, no-gap approach with AIRTHO. That version is called MASPE+, a no-diastema MARPE/MASPE protocol. Either way, the goal is the same: a wider upper jaw without the big front-tooth gap.
- Slow, gradual activation instead of fast daily turns
- Clear aligners synchronized with expansion
- Designed to avoid the large front-tooth gap
See how DOMEzero works, or compare it with the removable Vivos approach.
What patients and families say
Real Google reviews from our Draper office, Dr. Buxton's patients, and Toothpillow families. Individual experiences; every airway is different.
"Dr. Buxton really cares about his patients. I couldn't be happier with the results! ... Not to mention the new office and decor are absolutely stunning. Everyone in the office is so friendly!"
"Love this place so much! They Have helped me with my kids but also myself. AMAZING!!!"
"Dr. Buxton is a great dentist!! He is thorough and patient. Really enjoy all of his staff too. They are all very professional. Highly recommend!"
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between MARPE and MASPE?
Both anchor an expander to the palatal bone with small miniscrews. MARPE traditionally activates the expander quickly, while MASPE activates it slowly and gradually. Dr. Buxton uses two slow, no-gap approaches: DOMEzero with Spark clear aligners, and MASPE+ with AIRTHO airway aligners.
Does MARPE hurt?
Many patients describe pressure or tightness around the palate and nose, especially in the days after an activation. Slow activation, like the DOMEzero protocol, is designed to be gentler. Dr. Buxton will walk you through numbing for anchor placement and what to expect during expansion.
Will MARPE leave a gap between my front teeth?
Traditional MARPE often opens a temporary gap between the front teeth. With DOMEzero or MASPE+, clear aligners manage the front teeth as the palate widens, so patients can avoid that large gap.
Am I too old for a palate expander?
MARPE was developed specifically for adults and older teens whose palates have finished growing. No single age cutoff applies to everyone. How well expansion works depends on your bone and your palate, which is why Dr. Buxton reviews a 3D CBCT scan before recommending it.
How long does MARPE take?
Expansion is planned together with clear aligners that settle the teeth. Your timeline depends on how much width you need, and Dr. Buxton maps it out after your consultation.
Can MARPE help with sleep apnea or snoring?
A wider upper jaw may support easier nasal breathing and more room for the tongue. Results vary from person to person. Sleep apnea is a medical diagnosis made with proper testing, so we build expansion into a plan guided by sleep data. Learn more about our sleep apnea treatment.
Treatments that often go together
DOMEzero Expansion
Adult palate expansion paired with clear aligners from day one, designed to widen the upper jaw without the big front-tooth gap.
Learn more →
Vivos Treatment
A removable appliance approach designed to support arch development and the airway, with a Vivos VIP Provider in Draper.
Learn more →
Sleep Apnea Treatment
Snoring, waking tired, or struggling with CPAP? An airway-first plan that starts with a sleep test and looks for the root cause.
Learn more →Schedule your airway consultation
Book online or call. Consultations for kids, teens, and adults at our Draper office.
14203 Minuteman Drive #101
Draper, UT 84020
Just off I-15, minutes from IKEA
Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM
"Great place! They are doing it differently. Well done!"
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