Invisalign Palatal Expansion/Airway Improvement
Make room for adult teeth
Palatal (maxillary) expansion can improve both dental alignment and airway‑related breathing, especially when done early in skeletal development. Typically ages 6-14 years of age.
Benefits of Palatal Expansion
Creates space for crowded teeth, potentially reducing or eliminating the need for extractions later
Corrects posterior crossbites and improves bite, chewing efficiency, and speech
Widening the upper jaw increases the width of the nasal cavity and nasal floor, which boosts nasal airway volume and reduce mouth breathing, and decrease snoring, particularly in children diagnosed with obstructive sleep‑disordered breathing
Supports more balanced facial growth and symmetry by encouraging proper jaw development, which can positively affect long‑term facial aesthetics and jaw‑joint function
Improved sleep quality and reduced daytime fatigue, irritability, and attention issues in children because better nasal airflow supports more stable nighttime breathing
Using a series of 3D-printed expanders that gradually widen to create space for adult teeth, the Invisalign Palatal Expander System gives kids the orthodontic care they need, without you having to manually crank open the expander every day. Ask Dr. Shems about Invisalign treatment today!
Traditional Palate Expander
Traditional in concept, but state of the art in design.
Our palate expanders are 3D metal-printed and AI-generated for precision and comfort. Most designs do not require spacers. For patients with metal allergies, we can fabricate 3D-printed titanium expanders.
Dr. Shems also offers mini and extra-small 3D-printed palate expanders designed to fit more comfortably in smaller mouths.
A metal palate expander with a screw and key is a cemented orthodontic device that sits across the roof of the mouth and gently widens the upper jaw over time.
Our green initiative is clear
We take great satisfaction in our commitment to recycle and mitigate the excessive plastic waste plaguing our planet. We understand that millions of plastic aligners end up in the trash, then landfills, contributing to our planet’s plastic waste crisis.
Turn in your used aligners and plastic wrappers to our designated recycling drop box at our entrance.
We teamed up with TerraCycle, a nonprofit organization working to reduce the flow of plastic waste into our global water sources. Explore more about their innovative recycling processes at terracycle.com, where discarded plastic gets a second life as playgrounds, construction materials, and so much more.
Look for signs throughout the office about other measures we are taking to protect our planet!
