How Do Braces Change Your Face Structure

Your first visit to the orthodontist is the perfect time to ask questions that you’ve been wondering about such as “Do braces change your face?”

It’s only natural to want to look your best, and it only takes looking at a few before and after pictures of orthodontic treatment to make it clear how much a straighter smile can affect a person’s appearance.

You may have also seen your friends or family members enjoy a major change in how their overall face looks after they wore braces. While you can only get the best answers about how braces might alter your appearance from a professional orthodontic consultation, you should know what possible effects you may enjoy from getting braces.

How Do Braces Change Your Face?

The results from wearing braces can range from dramatic differences in how you look to mild changes that simply improve upon your current appearance. Your teeth create a resting place for your lips, and the position of your teeth affects how the look when your mouth is open and closed.

The position of your jaws also affects your facial appearance. A misaligned jaw can cause the top or bottom part of your mouth to jut out slightly. Braces and other orthodontic appliances like Invisalign help to correct these imperfections. When braces move your teeth and jaws to a new location, it naturally affects where your lips, cheeks and other facial features rest as you speak and sit quietly.

Will Other People Notice My New Facial Appearance?

The true answer to this question is that it depends. If you only have minor orthodontic issues, such as slightly crooked teeth, then people may notice that your smile is more radiant. However, correcting severe orthodontic issues should generate enough changes that some people will notice a difference in your appearance. This is especially true if you have not seen them for a while.

Remember that orthodontic treatment occurs slowly over time. This means that some of the people who are closest to you might not notice a significant change because they have gotten used to seeing you every day. Fortunately, you can see the difference when you check out photos of how you looked before your treatment compared to how you look afterwards.

What Are the Different Types of Bite Problems?

Understanding how bite problems affect your appearance can help you figure out more regarding your question of do braces change your face shape. The different types of bite issues all have varying impacts upon your overall appearance.

• Underbite – With this type of bite, you can see that the lower jaw sticks out further than the upper one. This has the effect of creating a more prominent chin, and you can see this from the side of a person’s face. After treatment, the facial features seem softer since the lower part of the jaw matches up to the upper part.
• Overbite – This is the opposite of an underbite. With this orthodontic issue, the upper jaw juts out over the lower jaw. This makes the upper lip more prominent, and it causes a person to have a weakened chin line. Braces help to move the upper lip back and the lower jaw forward so that you will have a more defined chin and less sunken cheeks.
• Open Bite – With an open bite, you may not be able to close your mouth completely. You may also have teeth that appear oversized and lips that look stretched. Your orthodontist can help you use braces to begin the process of closing your bite, which has an impact upon your appearance.

Will My New Smile Look Right as I Get Older?

Your appearance naturally changes as you get older. Orthodontic problems tend to get worse as you age since they become more obvious when your facial features grow larger as you move into adulthood.

If you are already an adult, then you have nothing to worry about since your new smile will fit your face that only changes slightly over the years. At this age, taking care of your teeth helps you to prevent other issues such as tooth decay that can change how your smile affects your appearance.

Since younger children are getting braces today, orthodontists are careful to use specialized techniques that ensure that their smile will fit their growing faces. Moving the jaws and teeth into proper alignment can actually help foster ideal growth within the bones and other structures within a child’s face. Correctly aligned jaws do not apply improper amounts of pressure on the muscles and ligaments around the mouth. This allows an older child or teen’s facial features to develop more naturally and without causing them pain or discomfort.

Will Braces Make My Profile Look Better?

Your profile is one of the areas where the changes made to your face shape by braces is the most obvious. This is because issues, such as overbites and underbites, move the jawline outward in the affected area. When you take a before photo at the beginning of your orthodontic treatment, make sure to capture a profile shot.

Depending upon your orthodontic issues, you should see things happen. For instance, correcting your overbite should help to bring more attention to a weakened chin that is noticeable from a side view. In a time where taking selfies is important, creating a more aesthetically pleasing profile can make a big difference in how you feel presenting your self to the world.

What Other Reasons Should I Get Braces?

Your appearance is a huge reason to get braces since it affects your confidence. However, you should also remember that orthodontic treatment helps to improve your overall oral health. Misaligned teeth serve as food traps that can generate more risks for tooth decay. A misaligned bite can also make it harder to eat nutritious foods, and you may eventually begin to experience pain if the bite problem causes strain within your facial muscles.

Getting braces is an important decision that impacts many aspects of your life. Make sure to work with an orthodontist who can help you determine how much of a difference your treatment will make for your appearance. Knowing that you will improve your weak chin or correct sunken in cheeks can help you stay motivated to comply with your treatment plan.

When you are unhappy with how your smile and general face shape looks, it is time to seek professional advice. Take the time to visit an orthodontist nearby that can help you find out how much different you can look with straighter teeth.

Disclaimer – This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about orthodontics and general oral health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your orthodontist or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.

How Do Braces Change Your Face Structure

Perry Stevens

Perry heads up a dynamic marketing team that has help the leading orthodontic practices in the USA 10X their business for over a decade. He’s a tea connoisseur, avid reader, traveling and grower of exotic fruits in his permaculture food forest.