Rapid maxillary expansion (RME) is indicated in patients with transversal maxillary constriction. Fixation of the appliance at the teeth leads to more tipping than bodily movement. Resorptions at the roots and the cortical bone could be side effects of RME. The aim of the study was the improvement of bodily movement and evidence for nose volume changes in adult patients with application of the bone born Dresden Distractor (DD). DD was applied in 20 adult patients with direct fixation of the hyrax screw by one implant and one bone screw. The expansion was surgical assisted (Glassmann). In CT-scans the changes of teeth, alveolar processes and skeletal structures were compared between the bone born and the tooth borne expansion method before and six month after surgery. DD caused an increasing of the alveolar bone diameter in the molar region of 8 mm with 11 degree buccal tipping of both maxillary halves. Tipping of molars was with 3 degree lower and showed a torque-effect of the teeth. There was a V-shaped opening of the suture in anterior, respective caudal direction. The nasal volume increases at the bottom of anterior part up to 13 % and decreases in posterior direction (1.5%). Findings are in contradiction to previous studies. If forces are transferred via teeth the progressive increase of skeletal resistance lead to more dental tipping at the molars. DD is a tooth-independent method, protecting teeth and causing skeletal effect with 10 degree less tipping of teeth as precondition for stable occlusion.