DOMEzero Adult Palate Expansion in Draper, Utah
A narrow upper jaw can crowd your teeth, your tongue, and your nasal airway. DOMEzero is the expansion protocol Dr. Jeff Buxton uses for adults: slow, gentle, bone-anchored expansion synchronized with Spark clear aligners, so you can widen the palate without living with a big gap in your smile.
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The roof of your mouth is the floor of your nose
If you snore, wake up tired, clench your jaw, or have crowded teeth that came back after orthodontics as a teen, it's worth asking a different question: how much room is there to breathe? A narrow upper jaw leaves less space for the tongue to rest where it belongs, and it can narrow the nasal passages that sit right above it.
For years, adults were told expansion was only for kids, or that surgery was the only way to widen a mature palate. DOMEzero was developed as an evolution of MARPE techniques to give adults a minimally invasive option that works on the bone of the upper jaw itself, with clear aligners guiding the teeth along the way.
- Designed to widen the upper jaw, where many airway issues begin
- May support easier nasal breathing and better tongue posture
- Planned around your airway, your bite, and your smile together
Signs DOMEzero may be worth a conversation
Only an exam and 3D imaging can tell whether expansion fits you, but these are the patterns that usually bring adults to our Draper office.
A narrow palate
A high, tight roof of the mouth or a narrow smile where the back teeth barely show.
Crowded teeth
Teeth that overlap or have shifted again, often a sign there was never enough room to begin with.
Stuffy nasal breathing
Breathing through your mouth, especially at night or during exercise, even when you aren't sick.
Snoring or restless sleep
Loud snoring, waking up unrefreshed, or a sleep test that points to sleep-disordered breathing.
Jaw tension and TMJ symptoms
Clenching, grinding, clicking, or morning headaches that haven't eased with a night guard alone.
A low tongue posture
A tongue that rests low or pushes forward because it has nowhere else to go.
It all starts with an airway consultation
Before anyone talks treatment, we get the full picture. Your consultation with Dr. Buxton includes:
- A 3D CBCT scan of the airway, jaws, and joints
- A digital intraoral scan (no goopy molds)
- Photos and a hands-on exam of breathing, tongue, and bite
- A plain-language walkthrough of what we see and what your options are
Airway consultation: {$350 for kids and adults}
Your plan starts with a 3D look at your airway
Before anyone talks about an appliance, Dr. Buxton needs to see what's really going on. Your adult airway consultation includes a 3D CBCT scan of your jaws and airway, a digital intraoral scan (no goopy molds), photos, and a conversation about how you sleep, breathe, and feel.
The CBCT lets Dr. Buxton look at the width of your upper jaw, the palatal bone where small anchors would sit, and the space in your nasal and throat airway. For most adults, we also recommend an at-home sleep test first, so your plan is built on real sleep data.
- 3D CBCT imaging of the jaws and airway
- Digital scans used to plan both the expander and your aligners
- Sleep data to guide the full plan
How DOMEzero treatment works here
DOMEzero fits into the same airway-first order we follow for every adult patient.
Sleep test and records
We start with a home sleep test for most adults, then 3D CBCT imaging and digital scans at your airway consultation in Draper.
Custom expander placement
A custom expander is anchored to the palatal bone with small anchors (miniscrews). Anchoring to bone is designed to widen the upper jaw itself, rather than relying mainly on tipping the teeth.
Slow, gradual activation
Instead of fast daily turns, DOMEzero uses gradual, digitally planned activation that is synchronized with your Spark clear aligners.
Spark clear aligners from the start
Aligners run alongside the expansion and manage the front teeth, so patients can avoid the large gap that traditional expansion is known for. Your aligners then guide teeth into their new space.
Finishing touches for your airway
Some adults add myofunctional therapy or QuietNite laser treatment for snoring, which can be done at any point in care.
DOMEzero, traditional MARPE, and Vivos
Adults have more than one path to a wider upper jaw, and Dr. Buxton offers the ones he trusts. Here's the high-level picture, and your consultation fills in the details for your own anatomy.
Traditional MARPE also anchors an expander to bone with miniscrews. It's a well-established technique, and it often opens a noticeable temporary gap between the front teeth that closes later in treatment. Read more about MARPE and MASPE.
DOMEzero builds on MARPE with slow activation and Spark clear aligners synchronized from day one, so the front teeth are managed as the palate widens. When AIRTHO airway aligners are the better fit, Dr. Buxton uses the same slow, no-gap approach under a different name: MASPE+, his no-diastema MARPE/MASPE protocol. He recommends the approach that fits your needs and your skeletal structure.
Vivos is a removable appliance approach for adults who prefer something they can take out. Dr. Buxton is a Vivos VIP Provider, and it can be a good fit for the right patient. Learn about Vivos.
If snoring or sleep apnea is part of your story, see how expansion fits into our sleep apnea treatment plan.
What patients and families say
Real Google reviews from our Draper office, Dr. Buxton's patients, and Toothpillow families. Individual experiences; every airway is different.
"Dr. Buxton really cares about his patients. I couldn't be happier with the results! ... Not to mention the new office and decor are absolutely stunning. Everyone in the office is so friendly!"
"Love this place so much! They Have helped me with my kids but also myself. AMAZING!!!"
"Dr. Buxton is a great dentist!! He is thorough and patient. Really enjoy all of his staff too. They are all very professional. Highly recommend!"
Frequently asked questions
What is DOMEzero?
DOMEzero is an adult expansion protocol that pairs minimally invasive, bone-anchored palatal expansion with clear aligner therapy. The expander widens the upper jaw slowly while aligners guide the teeth, including the front teeth, so patients can avoid the large gap typical of traditional MARPE.
Is DOMEzero the same as MARPE?
They're closely related. Both use small anchors in the palatal bone to support expansion. DOMEzero was developed as an evolution of MARPE techniques, with slow activation and clear aligners synchronized from the start. See our MARPE page for the full comparison.
Which clear aligners are used with DOMEzero?
DOMEzero is done with Spark clear aligners, synchronized with the expander from day one. If AIRTHO airway-oriented aligners are a better fit for your plan, Dr. Buxton can pair the same slow, bone-anchored expansion with AIRTHO instead. That version is called MASPE+, a no-diastema MARPE/MASPE protocol. Read more on our MARPE page.
Will I get a gap between my front teeth?
Avoiding the big front-tooth gap is one of the main reasons DOMEzero exists. Because aligners manage the front teeth during expansion, patients can usually skip the noticeable diastema that traditional expansion often creates. Dr. Buxton will explain what to expect for your own teeth.
Does DOMEzero require surgery?
DOMEzero is designed as a minimally invasive alternative to surgically assisted expansion. Placing the small anchors is an in-office step, and Dr. Buxton will walk you through comfort and numbing at your consultation.
Can DOMEzero help with snoring or sleep apnea?
A wider upper jaw may support easier nasal breathing and more room for the tongue, and many patients hope for better sleep. Results vary, and sleep apnea is a medical diagnosis made with proper testing, so we build your plan around sleep data and coordinate with your other providers.
How long does DOMEzero take?
Expansion and aligners are planned together from the start. Your timeline depends on how much expansion you need and how your bone responds, and Dr. Buxton maps it out after reviewing your 3D scans.
Treatments that often go together
MARPE Expansion
A palate expander for adults, anchored with small anchors in the bone and designed to widen a narrow upper jaw.
Learn more →
Adult Clear Aligners
AIRTHO clear aligners, planned around your airway and tongue space, usually after expansion to guide your teeth into their new room.
Learn more →
Sleep Apnea Treatment
Snoring, waking tired, or struggling with CPAP? An airway-first plan that starts with a sleep test and looks for the root cause.
Learn more →Schedule your airway consultation
Book online or call. Consultations for kids, teens, and adults at our Draper office.
14203 Minuteman Drive #101
Draper, UT 84020
Just off I-15, minutes from IKEA
Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM
"Great place! They are doing it differently. Well done!"
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