Do Braces & Aligners Change Your Face Shape?
Receiving orthodontic treatment can positively impact more than just your teeth - it can affect the shape of your face, too! Common methods of treatment, such as braces and aligners, are particularly effective at correcting even the most severe cases of malocclusions (the misalignment of your bite), but what else can noticeably change?
This article will assess the positive adjustments that orthodontic treatment can have on your facial features, from the jawbone to the nose, helping you to look younger and enjoy a healthier smile.
How Do Braces and Aligners Affect Your Facial Structure?
The positioning of your teeth has a significant influence on your jaw alignment and overall facial symmetry. This means that when issues such as overbites occur, the symmetry of your face can be offset; potentially leading to emotional and physical discomforts that come with poor dental alignment, as well as potential issues with self esteem.
So, how do braces change the shape of your face? Orthodontics solutions, such as fixed braces and clear aligners, work by applying pressure on the periodontal ligament, which affects surrounding soft tissues and ultimately, the position of your jaw. Your misaligned teeth will gradually shift back into their correct place and establish greater facial symmetry.
Let’s take a look at how your facial features could adjust as treatment progresses:
Changes in Your Jawline
Overbites and underbites can make the jaw appear weak or overly prominent, but proper alignment from treatment improves your facial balance and symmetry. In cases where the lower jaw is recessed or protruding, braces or aligners can help reposition it, creating a more “harmonious” profile. For the most severe cases, orthodontics may be combined with jaw surgery for the best results, but this is less commonly required.
Changes in Your Nose
Although braces and aligners don’t directly change your nose shape, improving jaw alignment can slightly alter your profile. A corrected bite may make the nose appear more proportionate, especially if an overbite or underbite previously affected your facial balance. Additionally, when the upper jaw moves forward or backwards during treatment, it can create the illusion of a slight change in nose position due to shifting facial angles.
Changes in Your Lips and Mouth
The positioning of your teeth plays a crucial role in lip support and the overall aesthetics of your mouth. Some treatments, particularly braces, can reduce excessive lip protrusion in cases of severe overjet (overbite), or improve fullness if your teeth were previously recessed. As the bite is corrected, your lips may appear more balanced, and the overall shape of the mouth can become more symmetrical.
How Do Braces and Aligners Affect a Child or Teenager’s Face?
Facial changes during orthodontic treatment are particularly more noticeable in children and teenagers since their bones are still developing.
In many cases, you can expect a noticeably straighter smile and stronger cheekbones as treatment concludes, which often takes a few years - you won’t notice these changes overnight!
How Do Braces and Aligners Affect an Adult’s Face?
Braces vs Aligners: Do They Have Different Effects on Your Face?
Both braces and aligners shift teeth to improve their alignment, but they can impact facial appearance in slightly different ways due to the differences in the treatment methods.
- Fixed braces tend to have a more noticeable impact on the shape of your face once treatment concludes, mainly because they are often the preferred method for handling more severe misalignments.
- Clear aligners, such as Invisalign, tend to bring more subtle changes to your face shape since they primarily focus on teeth alignment rather than bone structure. The biggest, most noticeable improvement will be the shape of your smile.
How noticeable your facial changes will be tends to relate more to the severity of your orthodontic issue, rather than the type of treatment you choose. Essentially, the more severe your issue is, the more noticeable it will be when it has been corrected; a less severe issue will bring more subtle changes to your face shape.
What Are the Other Benefits of Orthodontic Treatment?
Expert treatment is recommended to anyone with orthodontic issues since there is a huge range of benefits - it’s not just about straightening your teeth! These benefits include:
- Improved chewing and speech function.
- Greater oral hygiene, reducing the risk of issues such as gum disease.
- Improved self-esteem, giving you greater confidence.
- Reduced risk of damage to more prominent teeth.
- Proper alignment of upper and lower dental arches.
- Relief from pain caused by TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders.
- Stronger preparation for more advanced dental treatments, such as crowns.
- Helps treat other mouth-related problems, such as cleft lip and palate.
Myths vs Reality: Do Braces and Aligners Drastically Change Your Face?
Many people worry that orthodontic treatment will drastically alter their facial appearance. In reality, changes are gradual and subtle, and typically improve facial harmony rather than causing extreme transformations. Let’s debunk some common misconceptions:
Myth 1: Your Lips Will Become Thinner or Fuller Overnight
Reality: Lips rest on the teeth, so their shape may change slightly as teeth shift, but not drastically. Any changes in lip fullness or positioning happen gradually and in a way that complements your overall facial structure - nothing dramatically more than that!
Myth 2: Your Nose Will Look Different After Treatment
Reality: Braces and aligners do not directly change the shape or size of your nose. However, correcting a misaligned bite can affect your facial proportions, sometimes making the nose appear more balanced within your profile.
Myth 3: Braces Will Completely Change Your Face Shape
Reality: While orthodontic treatment can improve your jaw alignment and facial symmetry, it does not drastically alter your face shape. Any changes that do occur will slowly happen over months or years and primarily improve natural features, not massively reshape them.
Myth 4: Only Children Can Notice a Change in Face Shape
Reality: Although post-treatment changes may be more noticeable in children and teens (since their jaw is still developing), this doesn’t mean adults won’t notice any differences! Instead, post-correction changes will be more subtle, and dependent on how severe your orthotonic issue is.
Contact Our Practice to Start Shaping the Perfect Smile
If you’re ready to start your journey to a healthier, happier smile, you’re in the right place. Based in the heart of Oxford, our team at Accessible Orthodontics is experienced in correcting a range of orthodontic problems - from protruding teeth to crossbites.
In the capable hands of Dr Orolloga, you’ll be well looked after during your treatment, and we offer a range of different treatments to suit your specific needs. To get started, simply book a free face-to-face or video consultation with us, and we’ll discuss your next steps.
