EXPAND
Evidence-based maxillary expansion decision tool

About EXPAND

Evidence-based maxillary expansion decision tool · Björn Ludwig · Digital + File Thursday

Evidence disclaimer

All clinical thresholds, success rates and decision rules in EXPAND are derived from peer-reviewed literature. The overall GRADE evidence quality ranges from very low to moderate. Published success rates reflect outcomes reported by academic specialist centres and may not generalise to all clinical settings. EXPAND is a decision-support aid only and does not replace clinical judgement, individual diagnostics, or — where indicated — CBCT assessment. Individual patient outcomes may deviate from the predicted values.

Literature references

  1. Melsen B. Palatal growth studied on human autopsy material. Am J Orthod. 1982.
  2. Baccetti T, et al. Treatment timing for rapid maxillary expansion. Angle Orthod. 2001.
  3. Angelieri F, et al. Midpalatal suture maturation: classification for the assessment of skeletal maturity. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2013.
  4. Brunetto DP, et al. Non-surgical treatment of transverse deficiency in adults using MARPE. Dental Press J Orthod. 2017.
  5. Kapetanović A, et al. Efficacy of miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE) — systematic review. Eur J Orthod. 2021. (GRADE very low)
  6. Weiss S, et al. Corticopuncture-assisted expansion outcomes (33% → 81%). 2021.
  7. Chun JH, et al. Randomized controlled trial: MARPE vs Hyrax skeletal effects (1.5–2.8×). 2022.
  8. Zeng J, et al. Dental versus skeletal expansion analysis (43.6% dental). 2023.
  9. Walter A, et al. MASPE — miniscrew-assisted slow palatal expansion. 2024.
  10. Georgi M, et al. Bone response to expansion: CBCT versus µCT histology. 2024.
  11. Marchetti C, et al. SARPE relapse — systematic review (15–20% relapse). 2009.
  12. Ngan P, et al. Age-dependent success of expansion (94% / 90% / 76%). 2021.
  13. Firinciogullari A, et al. 10-year stability: RPE 80% vs MARPE 30% relapse. 2025.
  14. Kapetanović A, et al. D-MED cohort — 4 TADs as evidence standard. 2022.
  15. Ludwig B, et al. Suture maturation estimation without CBCT — Ludwig group publications.

Contact

Prof. Björn Ludwig · Digital + File Thursday