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Dental braces seem like a gift from the heavens when dealing with a misaligned smile or crooked teeth. But do they change the shape of the face when worn? The short answer is yes, they will. In this blog, we will explore how the face shape changes when wearing dental braces and whether factors such as the complexity of your case, your age, or jaw structure have any impact on it.
How Do Braces Change Facial Shape
Makes it Look More Symmetrical
Each case of misalignment is unique to the individual. The changes braces make to the teeth include jaw adjustments that may lead to a more symmetrical and enhanced facial structure.
Reduces Jaw Overbite
An overbite is a dental condition where your upper teeth protrude above your lower teeth, giving the cheeks a sunken appearance. Braces adjust the jaw positioning, which helps the jaws align correctly.
Fixes Underbite
An underbite is when your bottom jaw and teeth protrude beyond your upper teeth when the mouth is closed. Braces will adjust both the upper and lower jaw as needed to help the mouth close better, giving the chin a natural shape.
Reduces Open Bite
An open bite is a type of misalignment where the upper arch along with the lower front teeth protrude outwards and don’t come into contact even with the mouth closed. This gives the face a very unnatural shape. Braces align both sets of teeth so that they fit perfectly in a closed mouth, thus enhancing the facial structure and alignment of the teeth as well.
Problems With Misaligned Teeth
As mentioned above, misaligned teeth don’t let the mouth close fully and comfortably. There are several other issues you might face due to misaligned teeth, which include:
Oral Health
Teeth with irregular shapes make cleaning around them difficult. Food particles stuck in them can lead to tooth decay and bad breath. Coming into contact in an unnatural manner can also wear and tear the enamel, which if left untreated can lead to discoloration, cracks, and chipping.
Bite
Misaligned teeth can affect your bite and chewing patterns, resulting in uneven food breakdown and large gaps of air gulped along with food, which cause bloating and indigestion.
Speech
People suffering from malocclusions also face problems with speech and pronunciation. The misalignment can affect how the tongue moves, therefore making it difficult to pronounce certain words. Many people who have an open bite also develop a lisp.
Aesthetics
Misaligned teeth affect your smile and facial structure, which takes a toll on your confidence. Low self-esteem and camera shyness are common among individuals who suffer from severe malocclusions.
How Do Braces Work?
Braces are comprised of metal brackets affixed to the surface of your teeth with a wire weaved through them. This wire is strategically adjusted in places to apply pressure to teeth and jaws to align your teeth.
When people with an underbite undergo braces treatment, they will notice changes to their jaw structure along with the dental alignment. Similarly, when dealing with open bite and overbite, braces help with the jaw and teeth alignment to reposition teeth.
Braces can fix dental misalignment and bring dramatic changes to your teeth, and as a result, this will also enhance your facial features and overall look.
Face Shape: Before and After Braces
The aftereffects of a braces treatment depend on the type of malocclusion the patients have suffered before the braces. For patients with a significant overbite, after braces, their upper lip will retract and their nose will look slimmer.
Patients who suffer from misaligned jaws will have a more natural and relaxed face with fuller cheeks since all the unnecessary tension in the facial muscles has been released. The face generally becomes more symmetrical and harmonious.
Braces for Teenagers vs. Adults
The changes in your facial structure after braces will not be sudden and may take several months depending on factors such as your age, dental condition, etc.
For teenagers, the change might be visible sooner, and for adults, these changes might be very subtle since adult bones are stronger and difficult to manipulate.
Facial Shape Alteration and Severity of Misalignment
You can expect to see dramatic facial enhancement only if you suffer from extreme malocclusions. If you suffer from minor to moderate dental misalignment, braces will do little to adjust your jaw.
Moreover, consider straightening your teeth with clear aligners that effectively treat overbite, underbite, crowding, and several other misalignments without the “in your face” appeal of metal brackets on your smile.
What Are Clear Aligners?
These are customized clear plastic trays, designed to fit your teeth snugly and apply gentle and consistent pressure to shift them into alignment.
Aligners come in a series of numbered sets; each set is slightly different from the last and shifts teeth a little more into the desired alignment. These don’t result in drastic facial alterations since they only cater to mild and moderate misalignment cases.
Clear aligners can be bought from your dentist, which may cost similar to braces or more, or you can get yours directly from a clear aligner provider such as Aligner32, which will cost you one-third the price.
In conclusion, braces can alter your face’s shape mildly in most cases and always lead to improving your jaw alignment and bite correction. However, if you suffer from mild to moderate malocclusions, consider treating your teeth with clear aligners that help you achieve the same result but more discreetly and affordably.
FAQs
1. Are braces noticeable?
Braces can give a ‘bulgy underlip’ appearance since they feature metal brackets and wires on teeth, which some find unappealing.
2. Do braces fix the jawline?
Yes, braces can enhance the appearance of your jawline, but only if is out of place to begin with. For mild to moderate misalignments, the change may be too subtle to make a difference.
3. What is the best age to get braces?
The best age to straighten teeth is the teenage years when all molars have erupted. If teenagers feel that braces impact their confidence, they can opt for clear aligners to start their teeth straightening journey.
