*Corresponding Author: Sarah Fatima, MDS, Assistant Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Panineeya Mahavidyalaya Institute of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, India.

Received: September 04, 2026; Published: September 25, 2026

Transverse maxillary deficiency is a frequent skeletal deformity associated with occlusal imbalance, dentofacial disharmony, and reduced nasal airway function. In growing patients, rapid maxillary expansion (RME) provides reliable skeletal widening, but its effectiveness declines with age due to progressive interdigitation of the midpalatal suture and increased circummaxillary resistance. In skeletally mature individuals, surgical intervention is often required to achieve predictable correction. Surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion (SARPE) remains the most established approach for isolated transverse deficiency, employing targeted osteotomies to reduce resistance and permit controlled expansion. Distraction osteogenesis (DO) offers gradual skeletal separation with new bone formation, making it particularly valuable when larger or more controlled movements are needed. Segmental maxillary osteotomy provides an alternative when transverse correction is incorporated into comprehensive orthognathic surgery. Beyond dental alignment, surgical expansion has been shown to enlarge the nasal cavity and improve airway dimensions. Selected studies report favourable changes in oxygen saturation and reductions in obstructive sleep apnea indices, highlighting the potential role of maxillary expansion in airway management. However, outcomes vary depending on craniofacial anatomy and the level of obstruction, underscoring the importance of careful patient selection. Successful treatment requires thorough evaluation of skeletal morphology, periodontal support, bone quality, systemic health, and the magnitude of discrepancy. Advances in threedimensional imaging, virtual surgical planning, and customized expansion devices have enhanced diagnostic accuracy and surgical precision. This review outlines current surgical strategies for transverse maxillary expansion, emphasizing indications, protocols, complications, stability, and the emerging role of expansion in sleepdisordered breathing.

Keywords: Transverse Maxillary Deficiency; Surgically Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion (SARPE); Distraction Osteogenesis (DO); Segmental Maxillary Osteotomy; Orthognathic Surgery; Nasal Airway Resistance, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA); ConeBeam Computed Tomography (CBCT); Virtual Surgical Planning; Skeletal Stability

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Citation

Citation: Sarah Fatima., et al. “Expanding the Airway: Surgical Jaw Expansion Techniques in Sleep Apnea Management". Acta Scientific Dental Sciences 10.10 (2026): 28-42.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2026 Sarah Fatima., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.