•  
  •  
 

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Abstract

Introduction: Mini-screw assisted rapid maxillary expansion (MARPE) emerged as a less invasive alternative treatment for transverse maxillary expansion, and designed to overcome the limitations of conventional rapid maxillary expansion for patients from post-pubertal growth spurt period onwards, often presenting with an interdigitated suture. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the efficacy of this treatment on skeletal, dento-alveolar and periodontal levels based on CBCT studies, by comparing it to the conventional rapid maxillary expansion (RPE).

Methods: a literature search of five databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect and the Cochrane library) was conducted from 2010 until July 2025. The search yielded 683 citations, and 7 studies were found eligible and thus included for the analysis. Risk of bias: the quality assessment of the included studies was conducted using RoB-2 tool for RCTs and ROBINS-1 for retrospective study. Quality of Evidence was assessed using a narrative GRADE approach.

Results: 7 studies were included for qualitative analysis, with overall moderate RoB and low quality of evidence. All studies were carried out on CBCT and assessed at least one of these outcomes: separation of mid-palatal suture, skeletal, dento-alveolar and periodontal effects resulting from RPE. Success rate of MARPE was overall high (89%-91%) and the results showed statistically significant changes.

Conclusion: This review concluded that MARPE is an effective treatment option for maxillary expansion for adolescents and young adults. The hybrid (tooth-bone-born) design represents a balance between increased skeletal expansion and reduced side effects, particularly for patients with compromised periodontal health. However, due to heterogeneity in protocols and sample characteristics, further studies are necessary to confirm these findings. PROSPERO: registration number (CRD420251076664).

Download

Share

COinS