An interview with Julie, age 39 — Cronin & Czarnik Orthodontics patient
At Cronin & Czarnik Orthodontics, we believe the most powerful way to understand treatment is to hear directly from the people who’ve experienced it. We sat down with Julie, a 39-year-old patient who completed MARPE treatment, to talk openly about her journey, what surprised her most, and how it has impacted her daily life.
Below, Julie answers common questions in her own words.
What made you consider MARPE?
Since going to an orthodontist with my parents, I was told the same thing at orthodontic consultations: I have a small jaw. I have too much crowding. I need teeth removed to make everything fit. The idea of taking teeth out never sat right with me or my parents. I didn’t love the idea of pulling healthy teeth just to create space, so I never went forward with getting my teeth straightened.
Recently, I started doing my own research and went down a bit of a Google rabbit hole trying to understand why my bite and teeth didn’t feel right. That’s when I first learned about this procedure.. It immediately made sense and I knew I was meant to have a larger jaw.
What symptoms were you experiencing?
My initial reason for looking into all of this was to fix my crooked teeth. After reading more about what a MARPE could fix I realized I suffered from several other issues stemming from my small jaw. I was a chronic mouth breather, especially at night, and I often woke up feeling tired. I also dealt with congestion and felt like I couldn’t get a full breath through my nose. My bite felt crowded and tight, and I occasionally had jaw tension.
Were you nervous about the procedure?
Yes—definitely! Who isn’t scared of all things dentistry! I had questions about discomfort, how it would affect my daily routine, and whether it would really work at my age. Also, I’m a working mother of two and can’t take time off from life. What helped was how thorough the team at Cronin & Czarnik Orthodontics was. They walked me through the imaging, the planning, and exactly what to expect. Hearing how different MARPE is from actual jaw surgery and other invasive dental procedures was eye opening. When it was time to actually get started with the procedure I was so excited!
What was the placement like?
The placement was so much easier than I expected. It was very controlled and precise. The top of your mouth has to be numb so it does require a shot. Afterward the process was so easy. I felt light pressure for a few moments but not pain, and the whole process was quicker than I had built up in my mind. Dr. Czarnik went over some simple instructions and recommendations for over the counter medications: Tylenol and Ibuprofen to help relieve any discomfort following the procedure. I initially told my boss that I may be taking some time off work but ended up not needing to.
How did you feel the first week?
The biggest thing that I didn’t foresee was getting adjusted to life with an expander in the roof of my mouth. I followed the doctor’s simple instructions with over the counter medication and had no pain or discomfort following the procedure. I probably took these medications for 48 hours. My biggest difficulty was just getting used to eating with this device in. It took me a few days to adjust and I don’t really have any exact tips except to be patient and start with some softer foods. I personally love protein shakes and smoothies so that made the first few days easier. Over the course of those few days I just figured out how to adjust my diet by cutting food up more and chewing in slightly different ways.
In the first week I really didn’t feel anything from the expander. I felt light pressure and tightness, especially during turns, but it was manageable and temporary. As I mentioned before I did so much research on this subject I had a lot of questions for the doctor. I was happy to hear that he does the slow turning protocol so pain and pressure were never an issue.
I didn’t notice any major changes right away; however, my bite felt different, and I became very aware that something was actively happening. The support from the office during that first week made a big difference. I always knew what was normal and what to expect next. I kept waiting to notice true expansion (the split) in my jaw but spoiler alert it did not happen in the first week. (It was on the 15th day that I noticed a small space between my front teeth.)
Changes in breathing/sleep?
This was one of the most noticeable and meaningful changes for me. I started breathing more easily through my nose, especially at night. I truly can’t explain how wild it is to all of a sudden be able to breath through your nose when you lived your entire life thinking it was normal not to. I wasn’t waking up as often, and I felt more rested in the morning. I could have stopped treatment at this point and been totally satisfied!
It wasn’t an overnight transformation, but looking back at the first few months I can say this was a life changing experience.
Advice to other adults considering MARPE?
Don’t assume you’re “too old.” That was my biggest misconception. I thought expansion was only for kids, but that’s not true. Also, jaw surgery is not the only option.
If you Google MARPE it will show you a bunch of pictures of people with gigantic spaces between your front teeth, this was not the case. The biggest gap I ever had was maybe 1mm. Dr. Czarnik told me we could keep it smaller but I was so excited about the positive changes associated with my expansion that I did not want to slow down at the time.
Also, the initial annoyance of having something in your mouth only lasted a short while. Plus the doctor takes most of the MARPE out after the first few months so there is way less of it in your mouth. At this point it felt like things were mostly back to a new normal.
The doctor gave me the option of having braces or Invisalign to help straighten my teeth with my MARPE. I chose braces because I secretly always wanted them.
I am constantly talking in both my professional and social life. Friends never noticed a difference in my speech. However, I love talking about my treatment so I would tell most people what was going on.
If you are thinking of anything like this, find a provider who truly understands these techniques and doesn’t want to just extract teeth to cram things together. Orthodontists may tell you things like this are not possible but that is not true! Ask questions and make sure you feel comfortable with your choice!
