Invisalign Palatal Expander

The Invisalign Palatal Expander (IPE) expands the upper jaw of your children to prevent problems or the development of orthodontic problems such as the following: 

• Dental crowding (overcrowded teeth);
• Crooked teeth;
• Anterior and/or posterior crossbite;
• Open bite;
• Protrusion of upper jaw;
• Gaps between teeth (diastema);
• Class 3 orthodontic problems. 

Just like traditional palatal expanders, the IPE is often used to 

• Expand narrow upper jaws;
• Prevent potential oral or jaw surgery for children;
• Alleviate airway obstruction that can cause snoring or breathing difficulties; 
• Prevent teeth impaction; 
• Correct crossbites; 
• Prevent facial asymmetry caused by uneven chewing and biting.

The best age for your child to seek Invisalign Palatal Expander (IPE) treatment is before they have fully developed their upper palate. The IPE is most effective at a young age – between the ages of 7 and 11 years old – when the palate has not fully formed. 

When the palate is undeveloped, it is possible to use the IPE to expand the upper jaw of your child. This creates the necessary space needed for teeth to grow properly. Creating the space for teeth to grow out properly can help prevent orthodontic conditions such as overcrowding of teeth. 

If you are considering or have been recommended the IPE for your child, the best thing to do is to start as soon as possible. Early orthodontic intervention can prevent bigger and costlier treatments in the future. 

Your child is suitable for Invisalign Palatal Expander (IPE) treatment if they meet the following criteria: 

• Has a narrow upper arch that needs expansion;
• Is below 11 years of age; 
• Has mixed dentition (a combination of baby and adult teeth);
• Has the possibility of developing further orthodontic conditions if the upper arch is not expanded. 

If you would like to ask further questions about the Invisalign Palatal Expander (IPE) before booking in a consultation with a dentist, you can ask for a smile consultation (online) or read further information on what to expect with the IPE.

The Invisalign Palatal Expander treatment works to expand the upper jaw of your child, while Invisalign First corrects orthodontic misalignment problems.

The IPE creates the necessary space needed for your child to have healthy teeth growth, while Invisalign First gently pushes the teeth into the desired positions for better smile and bite. 

If your child has sufficient upper jaw space, it is possible to proceed directly to Invisalign First to correct teeth alignment. 

If you are unsure whether your child requires the IPE before Invisalign First, you can ask for a smile consultation (online) before proceeding with an actual consultation at the clinic.

Both the traditional palatal expanders and the Invisalign palatal expanders fulfil the same function and purpose – to expand the upper palate of your child for better orthodontic and oral health. The key difference is the way that it is being done. 

The traditional palatal expanders are fixed. This means that you are not able to remove the palatal expanders until treatment is completed. You would also have to turn a screw with a key every day to expand the palate. This option is slightly less child-friendly as it is possible that you might need to be involved in assisting them with the daily key-turning. 

The IPE on the other hand is removable. The IPE is switched out every day then weekly to expand the palate. There is no screw to turn. However, strict wearing compliance is needed to ensure treatment success. 

The better solution for your child should be based on which orthodontic device you believe would work the best for your child based on their compliance levels and your involvement in their treatment.

The Invisalign Palatal Expander is worth it if you: 

• Have been advised by your dentist or orthodontist that your child might require palatal expansion to improve orthodontic and oral health; 
• Want an affordable and effective way of correcting potential orthodontic and oral health problems that your child might face in the future; 
• Want a fuss-free and removable solution to traditional palatal expanders. 

Yes, Invisalign Palatal Expander (IPE) is safe for your child. The orthodontic device has been tested for use on children and is as safe and effective as traditional palatal expanders.

No the Invisalign Palatal Expander (IPE) has been built to be more comfortable than traditional oral appliances like the traditional palatal expander. The entire experience should not cause discomfort or pain to your child. 

Instead of using a metal appliance that is fitted into the roof of the mouth of your child with screws, the IPE is a removable orthodontic device that can be easily removed and replaced by your child. The IPE was made to be child-friendly.

Your child will need to wear the Invisalign Palatal Expander at least 22 hours a day for treatment to be effective. The IPE works to gradually and gently push the palate of your child to expand it. Without sufficient wear time, the IPE will not be able to expand the palate.

Most children who have just started and are going through Invisalign Palatal Expander treatment change switch out their expander trays everyday for 30 days. This is because the trays gradually expand the palate with every single tray used. 

Once the desired expansion has been achieved, IPE patients will then replace their trays every 2 to 4 weeks to stabilise the palate. 

However, if your dentist or orthodontist has advised differently, please follow the instructions given. Every single child is different and has varying orthodontic needs and treatment requirements.

Every patient is unique. In some cases, you and your child may begin seeing results from the Invisalign Palatal Expander treatment within a span of 2 weeks. However, in more complex cases, you may only start seeing results after your child has done 3 months of continuous wearing. 

Every single child has different orthodontic needs and requirements. The IPE treatment is an individualised treatment that has been tailored to the needs of your child. While the timelines for treatment results may vary, you can be sure that with consistent wear, the IPE is able to deliver the results for your child that you are looking for.

If your child is using the Invisalign Palatal Expander, you might be asked to visit the dentist every 4 – 6 weeks for reviews and follow-ups. The frequency will vary based on the needs and requirements of your child, as well as what your dentist or orthodontist has advised. 

If your schedule is busy and unable to accommodate frequent dental clinic visits, it is possible to ask for a remote review and follow-up with Invisalign Virtual Care AI instead of an in-clinic one. 

Once your child is done with Invisalign Palatal Expander (IPE), your dentist or orthodontist will guide you to the next step of the orthodontic journey of your child. This might mean taking up braces or clear aligners like Invisalign First, Angel Aligner KiD or OneSmile Kid to help align the teeth of your child and correct the bite.

The choice of whether to take up braces or clear aligners is up to the individual preferences (e.g. lifestyle or budget) of your child and yourself. Both braces and clear aligners will be able to help your child achieve the same smile goal posts.