Surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion for management of transverse maxillary deficiency.

Surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion (SA-RPE) is a combined orthodontic and surgical procedure which facilitates an increase in transverse maxillary width in skeletally mature adults. Many different techniques have been described. In 1992 Pogrel and associates described a conservative method of widening the maxilla. This procedure consisted of bilateral zygomatic buttress and midpalatal osteotomies combined with the use of a tooth-borne device postoperatively. Other moreradical SA-RPE procedures have been described in which more extensive osteotomies have been performed. Experience of SA-RPE using the simplified technique described by Pogrel et al is describe.