2026 IPE Invisalign Palatal Expander: New Curve of Wilson Lower Arch Coordination Widget!

I. Introduction
Dr. Amanda from StraightSmile Solutions shares her updated 2026 approach to submitting Invisalign Palatal Expander (IPE) cases.
A new “widget” now appears in the ClinCheck submission process to help coordinate lower arch expansion and curve of Wilson up-righting.
While the widget is a smart addition, its accuracy is still unproven, so clinical judgment remains key.

II. The Old Way vs. The New Widget
Previously, the IPE submission required manual measurement and planning for lower arch coordination.
The new widget visually shows how upper expansion affects lower arch position and whether lower up-righting is needed.
If the lower arch is rolled in (curve of Wilson issue), it’s almost always accompanied by crowding, meaning the lower needs treatment, too.

III. Dr. Amanda’s Simple Rule: Slide It to 12
She advises maximizing expansion: “I wouldn’t pay $700 for an IP if I weren’t needing a lot of expansion.”
Sliding the widget to 12mm gives the greatest skeletal and airway benefit.
Cutting expansion short and finishing with aligners alone reduces airway and skeletal advantages, even if it creates some space.

IV. Lower Arch Coordination: Don’t Ignore It
Very rarely does a case require only upper expansion without lower intervention.
A constricted upper arch often causes the lower arch to roll in.
If the widget shows lower up-righting is needed, plan for lower treatment—whether with a removable expander, braces, or Invisalign First.

V. Why Invisalign for Phase 1 and Teens?
Dr. Amanda has swung back to favoring Invisalign for young patients because of its integrated tools (like IPE) and predictable outcomes.
She acknowledges the cost and closed ecosystem but maintains that for phase 1 interceptive and teen ortho, no other aligner brand matches the functionality.
Her goal is to educate doctors to use the product effectively, not to promote it unquestioningly.

VI. A Note on Her Independence
Dr. Amanda has never taken money from Align Technology and has walked away when they tried to control her content.
She invests her own time and money to learn, and her evolving opinions are based on clinical experience and what works best for her clients.

VII. The Bottom Line
The new widget is a helpful visual aid, but don’t rely on it unthinkingly.
Use it to identify whether lower arch up-righting is needed.
For maximum skeletal and airway benefit, expand fully and slide it to 12.
And always plan for the lower arch; isolated upper expansion is rarely enough.