Expansion Device

RPE (Rapid Palatal Expander)

Rapid Palatal Expansion (RPE) is a well-established orthodontic treatment that has been used for over a century to correct narrow upper jaws. The device is cemented to the upper molars and uses a screw mechanism that patients or parents turn daily to gradually widen the palate. RPE works by separating the midpalatal suture, which then fills in with new bone over time. This treatment is most successful in children and young adolescents whose sutures are still flexible.

144

Providers Available

95%+ success rate in properly selected pediatric patients

Success Rate

After active expansion, the device remains in place for 3-6 months to allow new bone to form

Recovery Time

Benefits

•Highly effective for children and adolescents under 14-16 years
•Non-surgical, minimally invasive treatment
•Well-established with decades of clinical evidence
•Can improve nasal breathing and reduce snoring
•Relatively quick treatment time (2-4 weeks of active expansion)
•Creates space for crowded teeth without extractions
•More affordable than advanced options

Considerations

•Less effective in adults with fully fused sutures
•May cause some dental tipping along with skeletal expansion
•Temporary speech changes during treatment
•Requires excellent oral hygiene around the appliance
•Initial discomfort and pressure during activation
•Gap between front teeth is normal and closes naturally

Ideal Candidates for RPE

Children ages 6-14 with narrow palates
Patients with posterior crossbites
Those needing space for crowded teeth
Patients with mild to moderate breathing issues

The Procedure

The RPE device is custom-made and cemented to the upper back teeth. A key is used to turn the expansion screw once or twice daily, gradually widening the palate over 2-4 weeks.

Recovery

After active expansion, the device remains in place for 3-6 months to allow new bone to form. Most patients adapt within the first week.

Find RPE Providers (144)

Connect with qualified specialists offering Rapid Palatal Expander treatment worldwide.

144 Providers Found

Matt McCoy

Verified

Provider Type

Expansion Device Provider / Airway-Focused Orthodontist

Locations

Idaho Falls, Idaho, United StatesChubbuckVictorShelley

Website

adventurebraces.com/

Devices Offered

RPE (Rapid Palatal Expander)

Find RPE Providers (144)

144 Providers Found

Matt McCoy

James Kendrick

Tito Norris

Glenn Krieger

David Birdwell

Bridget Powers

Nga Hoang

Rebecca Bockow

Jeannie Moody

Katia Lemke

Daniel Chow

Svitlana Koval

Patient Notes

Sheri Salartash

Sheetal Patil

Derek Mahony

Patient Notes

Jonelle Crichton

Christopher Cantlon

Preet Bhatti

Trista Felty Tsang

Joel De Souza

Patient Notes

Sylvain Chamberland

Dovi Prero

Audrey Yoon

Jordan Lamberton

Marcus Paulson

Patient Notes

Rosa Estrada

Richard Ting

Jacob Zitterkopf

Patient Notes

Zubad Newaz

Alberto Vargas

Roy King

Tim Herre

Arjun Patel

Steve Tottori

Hasan Othman

Patient Notes

Shira Levy

Patient Notes

Julian Davila

Anthony Puntillo

Maureen Kuhta

Jay Joshi

Meryl Baurmash

Patient Notes

Mikey Duong

Joseph Gaudio

Ilya Lipkin

Drew McDonald

Jay Parekh

Christopher Trockel

Camille Walker

Eric Howard

Marianna Evans

Jason Yang

Craig Starling

Akash Pandya

Douglas Shaw

John Karotkin

Hilton Goldreich

John Pobanz

Patient Notes

Azita Abbasi

Steve Clawson

Brandon Johnson

Meggie Graham

Marko Grguric

Ricardo Pina

Daniel Grob

Edmund A. Lipskis

Maria Karpov

Sebastian Baumgaertel

Patient Notes