Align Technology has announced that Align’s Invisalign Palatal Expander System is now commercially available in Singapore and Hong Kong for broad patient applicability, including growing children, teens and adults (with surgery or other techniques).
The Invisalign Palatal Expander System is now available in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and Singapore, and is expected to be available in additional APAC markets later in 2024, pending regulatory approvals.
The Invisalign Palatal Expander System has been listed on the Singapore Medical Device Register as a class B medical device and is a modern and innovative direct 3D printed device based on proprietary and patented technology.
Invisalign Palatal Expanders are intended for use in rapid expansion and subsequent holding of skeletal and/or dental narrow maxilla (upper jaw) with primary, mixed, or permanent dentition during treatment of patients.
“The Invisalign Palatal Expander System exemplifies our commitment to advancing digital orthodontics with innovative solutions that enhance patient treatment experiences,” said David Carr, Align Technology executive vice-president and managing director, Asia Pacific.
“We are excited to extend the availability of the transformative Invisalign Palatal Expander system, Align’s first direct 3D printed orthodontic appliance, to even more doctors and their patients markets across the Asia Pacific region.”
The Invisalign Palatal Expander System consists of a series of removable devices staged in small increments of movement to expand a patient’s narrow maxilla to a position determined by their treating doctor.
Each direct 3D printed device is customized to the patient’s unique anatomy based on an iTero intraoral digital scan. A palatal expansion treatment plan and device design are then developed using Align’s proprietary AI-driven orthodontic software.
Combined with Invisalign First aligners, Invisalign Palatal Expanders provide doctors with a full early intervention treatment solution for Phase 1 treatment, an early interceptive orthodontic treatment for young patients. Phase 1 treatment is traditionally done through arch expanders or partial metal braces, before all permanent teeth have erupted – typically at ages 6 through 10. Invisalign First clear aligners are designed specifically to address a broad range of younger patients’ malocclusions, including shorter clinical crowns, management of erupting dentition, and predictable dental 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, Align Technology executive vice-president, chief clinical officer.
“Together with Invisalign First aligners, Invisalign Palatal Expanders provide doctors with a solution set to treat the most common skeletal and dental malocclusions in growing children. The addition of mandibular advancement features to Invisalign aligners also provides doctors with more options for treating skeletal and dental jaw imbalances and bite correction for their growing patients during their teenage years.”
The Invisalign Palatal Expander System is available in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and Singapore, and is expected to be available in additional APAC markets later in 2024, pending regulatory approvals.
Related: Invisalign Palatal Expander System now available in AU and NZ
