Abstract

The general indications for surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME) are skeletal maturity, (extreme) transverse maxillary hypoplasia, either uni- or bilateral, anterior crowding and buccal corridors, the so called black corridors, when smiling. Furthermore the indications for SARME include any case where orthodontic maxillary expansion has failed and resistance of the sutures must be overcome. Transverse maxillary hypoplasia, in adolescents and adults, is frequently seen in non-syndromal and syndromal patients including cleft patients. In skeletally matured patients the uni- or bilateral transverse hypoplasia can be corrected by means of SARME.