Expanders and Retainers in Fort Collins

At Milnor Orthodontics, we know that braces and Invisalign are just part of the orthodontic journey. To achieve and maintain a healthy, beautiful smile, other appliances like expanders, separators, and retainers play a crucial role both before and after orthodontic treatment.

We offer the latest in comfortable, effective, and innovative orthodontic technology to make treatment easier for children, teens, and adults.

Invisalign Palatal Expander System for Kids (Ages 6–11)

The Invisalign® Palatal Expander is a revolutionary option for children, designed to create room for adult teeth comfortably and efficiently. Unlike traditional metal expanders, Invisalign expanders use custom 3D-printed aligners to gently widen the palate without manual adjustments or food restrictions.

Benefits of the Invisalign Palatal Expander:

Comfortable, non-invasive design
Clinically proven to be safe and effective
Fewer office visits compared to traditional expanders
Reduces stress and anxiety for kids during treatment

Give your child a healthier smile with less discomfort and hassle.

Learn more

Preparation Before Braces and Maintenance After

Although orthodontics is most often associated with braces or Invisalign, there are many other appliances used to achieve your perfect smile. Two of these are expanders and retainers, which are used before and after braces.

Palatal Expanders (Traditional & Rapid)

For children whose jaws need gentle guidance, palatal expanders help widen the upper jaw to create space for adult teeth. Early expansion can prevent future extractions and support proper jaw development.

How It Works:

Custom-made for your child’s mouth
Applies gentle pressure on the upper teeth to expand the palate
Remains in place for at least six months after expansion

Mild pressure is normal; severe pain should be reported immediately

Rapid Palatal Expander (RPE) Instructions

Activation

Use the provided key to activate the appliance

Follow the etched arrow on the expander

Remove the key carefully after each turn

Mild sensitivity or tingling is normal

Call us if the expander becomes loose or uncomfortable

How to Turn the Expander

Play Video

Retainer

Just like an athlete has to keep training to maintain their fitness level, you must wear your retainers after your braces are removed to maintain that gorgeous smile. It is recommended that you continue to wear your retainers for life!

Retainer Instructions

When you first get your braces off it is important to get 12 hours of retainer wear every day, unless instructed otherwise. After a couple of years, most individuals can decrease their retainer use to three to five times a week to maintain their result.

Take your retainers out when eating…and always put retainers in their case!

When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case. Pets love to chew on them, so keep them safe!

Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken, call us immediately.

Do not try to adjust retainers yourself, call us to schedule an appointment if you think adjustments are necessary.

Always bring your retainers to your appointments.

Retainer replacement is expensive. However, with proper care retainers will last for years!

Keep retainers away from hot water, hot car dashboards, pockets, the washing machine, and napkins.

Separators

Separators are little elastic bands that we floss between your back teeth to create space for your expander.

Separator Instructions

If they are uncomfortable, please take Advil or Tylenol as needed for pain.

While they are in place, please brush well around them but don’t floss as this could make them come out before we see you next.

Do no chew gum or eat anything sticky or chewy while separators in place.

Do not play with them or pick at them.

If they come out more than 4 days before your next visit, please call us during business hours and we will schedule a visit to replace them. This is not an emergency.