Miniscrew-Supported Palatal Expansion in Adults: A Clinical Case Report

Maxillary transverse deficiency is a common issue in orthodontic clinics and presents a treatment challenge in adults due to increased resistance to midpalatal suture separation. Miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE) has become an effective alternative by providing skeletal anchorage and minimizing side effects on teeth; however, little has been reported about its impact on underlying facial soft tissues. This case report follows the CARE guidelines for case reports and describes the clinical management of a young adult with maxillary transverse deformity treated with MARPE and corticopuncture, planned using tomography. The activation was performed gradually, under clinical and tomographic monitoring. The tomography showed transverse improvement with a parallel opening of the midpalatal suture of about 5 mm and no signs of adverse effects on adjacent teeth. Additionally, a 3D facial reconstruction revealed slight facial changes at the frontal level that were not clinically significant. It is concluded that MARPE expansion therapy was an effective and safe alternative for treating maxillary transverse deficiency in the adult patient in this case, with minimal impact on dental and facial structures.