Align Technology has announced that its Invisalign Palatal Expander System is now commercially available in Malaysia, following notification as a Class B medical device by the Malaysia Medical Device Authority. The system is suitable for a wide range of patients, including children, teens, and adults (with surgery or other techniques where required).
The Invisalign Palatal Expander System is a 3D printed orthodontic device based on Align’s proprietary, patented technology. It is designed to facilitate rapid expansion and subsequent stabilisation of a narrow maxilla (upper jaw) in patients with primary, mixed, or permanent dentition.
According to David Carr, executive vice president and managing director, Asia Pacific, “The Invisalign Palatal Expander System exemplifies our commitment to advancing digital orthodontics with innovative solutions that enhance patient treatment experiences. We are excited to extend the availability of the system, Align’s first direct 3D printed orthodontic appliance, to even more doctors and patients across the Asia Pacific region.”
Each device is removable and customised to the patient’s anatomy using an iTero intraoral digital scan. The treatment plan and device design are developed using Align’s proprietary AI-driven orthodontic software. The expander system provides an alternative to traditional metal appliances and can be combined with Invisalign First aligners for a complete early intervention treatment, covering both skeletal and dental expansion.
Invisalign First aligners are tailored for Phase 1 treatment—an early orthodontic intervention for children aged six to 10 years, prior to the full eruption of permanent teeth. These aligners are designed to address a variety of issues in younger patients, such as shorter clinical crowns, erupting dentition, and arch expansion.
“Phase 1 or early interceptive treatment accounts for 20 percent of orthodontic case starts each year and is growing,” said Dr Mitra Derakhshan, executive vice president and chief clinical officer, global treatment planning and clinical services at Align Technology. “Together with Invisalign First aligners, Invisalign Palatal Expanders provide doctors with a solution to treat the most common skeletal and dental malocclusions in growing children. The addition of mandibular advancement features to Invisalign aligners also gives doctors more options for addressing jaw imbalances and bite correction in teenage patients.”
The system is currently available in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Thailand, India and Malaysia.
Note: Children should not use the device without supervision.
