909: What's Happening in the World of MARPEs – Dr. Rebecca Bockow

When patients think of palatal expanders, they may think of torture devices. But with recent advancements and technology, they are more sophisticated than ever. In this episode of Clinical Edge Fridays, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. Rebecca Bockow, instructor from Spear Education, to share where we are today with MARPEs and why now is the best time to offer it in your practice. To learn how you can “expand” the services you provide, listen to Episode 909 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Dr. Bockow:

• Join Dr. Bockow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InspiredOrtho
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• Register for Dr. Bockow’s Healthy Growth - Healthy Faces course (September 25-27, 2025): https://www.arnettgunson.com/healthy-growth-healthy-faces-seattle

More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:

• Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listen
• Join The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360
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• Join ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt
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• Please leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218

Episode Resources:

• Watch the video version of Episode 909: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos

Main Takeaways:

• MARPE doesn't replace jaw surgery but is a less invasive solution for some patients.
• Age is no longer an impediment to MARPEs. Patients in their 60s can have it done.
• We can increase predictability and reduce complications with custom designs.
• Advancements have reduced the need for surgical intervention in adults.
• Educate patients. A MARPE is not a panacea for complex issues.
• Now is the best time to lean into MARPEs.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

1:23 Dr. Bockow’s background.

5:22 Why this is an important topic.

7:32 MARPEs, explained.

15:05 Where we are now with MARPEs.

18:35 The recovery process for patients.

19:31 Age is no longer an impediment.

21:04 What people get wrong about MARPEs.

22:45 The future of MARPEs.

25:00 Airway and periodontal implications of MARPEs.

26:10 Now is the perfect time to lean in.

27:19 How to get buy-in.

29:55 Final thoughts.

31:21 Dr. Bockow’s future course.

Dr. Rebecca Bockow Bio:

Dr. Rebecca Bockow is a dual-trained orthodontist and periodontist – the only dual-trained provider in Seattle and one of only a handful in the country.

Dr. Bockow grew up in the Greater Seattle area and attended University Prep for high school. She received a B.S. in Biology with Honors at Haverford College, where she also played soccer, squash, tennis, and ran cross-country and track. She completed her DDS training at the University of Washington Dental School in 2007. Dr. Bockow practiced as a general dentist in Seattle for two years while simultaneously teaching at the UW dental school.

Dr. Bockow completed a highly selective dual-specialty program combining Orthodontics and Periodontics at the University of Pennsylvania. She is a board-certified orthodontist and periodontist. While simultaneously enrolled in two residency programs, she also received a Master of Science in Oral Biology, focusing on intranasal ketorolac for postoperative implant pain management.

Dr. Bockow lectures nationally on periodontics, orthodontics, interdisciplinary orthodontics, airway, and skeletal growth and development. She contributes to multiple professional journals as an author and editor, and she is also a resident faculty member at Spear Education.