Rapid maxillary expansion (RME) widens a narrow upper jaw by gently separating the two halves of the palate along their natural growth seam. A small screw in the middle of the expander is turned on a set schedule for a few weeks, then held in place while new bone fills in. It corrects crossbites, creates space for crowded teeth, and works best in growing children and teens.
When is expansion needed?
- Crossbite, where upper back teeth bite inside the lower teeth
- A narrow, V-shaped upper arch with crowding
- Dark corners (buccal corridors) when smiling
- As part of treatment for impacted canines or Class III bites
How RME works
- Records and scanWe measure the transverse problem and take a digital impression.
- Fit the expanderA custom expander is fixed to the back teeth.
- ActivationParents turn the screw with a small key on a schedule we set. A small gap between the front teeth is a normal sign it is working.
- StabiliseThe expander stays in for a few months while bone consolidates; the gap usually closes on its own.
What about adults?
After the late teens, the palatal suture becomes much harder to open. For selected adults, mini-screw assisted expansion (MARPE) anchors the expander to the bone and can achieve skeletal expansion without surgery. We assess suitability on CBCT.
Who will treat you
Dr. Mukund D. Sawant, MDS (Orthodontics) from PGIMER Chandigarh with All India Rank 1 and residency at AIIMS New Delhi, plans and supervises every rapid maxillary expansion (rme) case at MDS Dental Care & Orthodontics, Badlapur.