Better dental and oral health is far more valuable than most people realize.
Correcting misaligned or overcrowded teeth with palatal expanders can improve oral hygiene by making brushing easier – which reduces the risk of developing tooth decay and gum disease.
It also helps to balance your facial profile by ensuring proper jaw and teeth alignment and can improve speech clarity after treatment.
If your dentist or orthodontist has recommended the Invisalign Palatal Expander treatment for you, read on to discover five things to expect before and after fitment:
Table of Contents
1. What Does It Feel Like After Fitment?
For some people, wearing an orthodontic device is enough to send chills down their spines.
It is natural to wonder if there is pain or discomfort during and after fitment. It is typical to experience some sensations of pressure, mild discomfort, tightness, or a feeling of fullness in the nasal area or upper jaw.
That should subside within a few days and should not be painful. If there is any pain during or after fitment, please get in touch with your dentist or orthodontist.
2. Importance of Proper Hygiene
After fitment, your dentist or orthodontist will give you a set of instructions to follow.
These instructions are tailored to the unique needs of your specific treatment plan. They must be strictly adhered to for the treatment plan to work.
They correct issues like overcrowded teeth, narrow palates, and malocclusions. While not strictly considered a cosmetic treatment, they do help you on your path to achieve your ideal look.
Maintaining proper hygiene is crucial for your oral health and the success of the treatment plan.
Before inserting the expanders, brush and floss your teeth thoroughly to stop food particles and bacteria from getting trapped.
3. The Benefits
The Invisalign Palatal Expander (IPE) effectively corrects narrow upper jaws and is a popular choice for many orthodontists and dentists. It improves the bite between the lower and upper jaws and reduces dental crowding.
Maxillary expansion is a common treatment when skeletal constriction is present, with or without a crossbite.
Expanders are used to correct these issues, and they are not just for cosmetic purposes – narrow palates can cause breathing problems, so the sooner they get addressed, the better for the patient.
4.Tips for Eating and Drinking
Invisalign Palatal Expanders are made from FDA-approved medical-grade nylon and are safe to wear while eating or drinking.
Start with softer foods like smoothies, yogurt, and custard. Once you have progressed to chewable foods, take smaller bites until you are comfortable wearing your IPE.
Gargle thoroughly with water after each meal to reduce the food particles getting stuck under the expander.
5. Usage Tips
Treatment plans include a series of expanders to use sequentially until the desired result is achieved. Each expander is designed to be changed after 24 hours.
Do not skip sets, even if you forget to change them for a few days, the process only works because it is gradual – you cannot force it to be quicker. Dental treatments can require plenty of patience, so learn to exercise yours.
Keep the old expander aside before opening a new pack so you do not get them mixed up.
Final Thoughts
Follow these tips above and see your treatment course through, it will be well worth it when it is all over.
Most treatment programs last three to six months so hang in there and think about how beautiful your mouth will look when your treatment is complete.
