How does your face change after using braces?

Braces in the mouth cause certain inconveniences - not only physiological, but also psychological. It will take time to get used to them. In addition, a person's face may change after wearing braces. True, these changes are rather positive. What happens to the face during bite correction using braces?

Bite is the arrangement of the teeth of the upper and lower jaw relative to each other in a state of natural full closure. There are four types of correct bite that can be easily determined by your dentist. The teeth may be closed evenly, and the upper or lower teeth may be slightly pushed forward, generally without abnormalities. But there are five types of malocclusions; braces are used to correct them.

With an incorrect bite, the upper or lower jaw may be too forward, or if the jaw is closed, the teeth may be arranged crosswise, like scissors. With an open bite, they do not close completely; a large gap remains between the cutting edges.

What consequences can there be from an incorrect bite?

An incorrect bite negatively affects a person’s health if it is not corrected in time. Abrasion of the tooth edges may occur, and diction may be impaired. Pieces of food get stuck in the spaces between improperly growing teeth, and this is a direct path to the development of caries.

In addition to physiological problems, changes in the oval of the face also occur due to malocclusion. Due to the displacement of the lower jaw, horizontal asymmetry, hollowing or sagging of the cheeks may occur. The line of the mouth also changes - the corners of the lips droop, they become thinner, and do not close completely. The face is changing, and only clinical intervention will save the situation.

How to correct a malocclusion

In orthodontics, there are a number of methods that help correct this jaw pathology. The most common of these are braces. They effectively correct malocclusion and dental imperfections. But wearing them is associated with some issues that the patient needs to know about before starting the correction.

Firstly, you need to prepare yourself psychologically that you will now have to wear a non-removable appliance on your teeth for a long time (at least a year). With it you will have to acquire new habits for caring for the oral cavity, in addition, braces change the shape of your face. Why is this happening? To do this, you need to understand how braces work.

Reviews

Changing your bite is a long and hard job. A person has to face a lot of difficulties throughout the entire treatment course.

Here it is important to prepare yourself psychologically and be prepared for the fact that a complex orthodontic apparatus will appear on your teeth. It will not only require changing habits and a special attitude towards hygiene, but will also change your appearance.

If you have had to undergo orthodontic treatment and would like to share your opinion regarding the problems discussed, please leave a comment on this article.

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Mechanism of operation of orthodontic structures

Each bracket is fixed to the crown and rotated in the desired plane to rotate and correct the position of the tooth in the row. Braces are made according to an impression of the patient’s jaw, taking into account all individual characteristics. Metal arches put pressure on the crowns, the periodontal ligaments are stretched, and the tooth gradually moves to the desired position. As it moves, the bone tissue is absorbed, and a new one is formed in the previous area.

In addition, other facial structures also change, since they are all connected together. This is why wearing braces inevitably changes the shape of your face.

What happens to the face while wearing braces?

The extent to which braces can change the shape of the face depends on the degree of tooth deformation and the type of bite that needs to be corrected. The behavior of the patient himself is also important - how accurately he will comply with the orthodontist’s instructions.

When wearing braces, interrelated changes occur in the maxillofacial structures. As they say in this case, braces break the face. The gradual displacement of bone tissue affects the muscles - their tone increases or, conversely, decreases. Let's take a closer look at how individual facial structures change.

Will the original appearance return after removal?

If the installation of the system was carried out by a professional, and the patient followed all the rules, then the facial changes, as a rule, are minor and only benefit the person.
If the correction was unsuccessful and led to severe deformation, you will have to try to restore the face. To speed up this process, you can use facial massage and face building (exercises aimed at the facial muscles). You can do gymnastics yourself, but massage is better to trust to an experienced cosmetologist.

How does the oval of the face change after braces?

A common question before installing orthodontic structures is whether braces break the oval of the face? Yes, after wearing them, some changes in the shape of the cheekbones and cheeks are possible in some cases. How obvious the changes will be depends on the type and degree of pathology.

Cheeks

The way the overall shape of the face looks, of course, is greatly influenced by the cheeks. Usually, after using braces, they become more sunken, and this is due to the following reasons. The doctor removes the extreme “eights”, which almost always interfere with the correction of the bite. The second factor that affects hollow cheeks while wearing braces is a change in diet. The patient's menu now includes much more liquid food and fewer snacks.

But gradually the place of the removed outer teeth is filled with bone tissue, and the diet becomes more complete as you get used to the braces, and the cheeks can acquire their previous roundness.

Cheekbones

Typically, after braces are installed, cheekbones become more noticeable. This occurs due to some hollowing of the cheeks and changes in facial expressions. If earlier, when smiling, a person tried to hide his teeth by tensing the muscles near his lips, now other muscle structures begin to work.

Nose

How does the nose change after braces? Many people note its slight upturning when wearing vestibular braces on the upper jaw, which persists even after their removal. This occurs due to a slight displacement and restructuring of the cartilage tissue of the nose. But women even like such changes in their faces - a cute upturned nose gives them a special charm.

Chin

Whether the position of the chin will change while wearing braces depends on the initial defect: if before their installation it was moved forward, now it can move back. If the bite defects are insignificant, then there will be no special metamorphosis with the chin.

Lips

Do the lips on the face change when wearing braces? This question especially worries girls. In this case, they even receive a pleasant bonus: now there are arches and braces under the lips, and they become a little plumper. Isn't this what all women dream about? However, after the braces are removed, the effect disappears.

Do braces change your face forever?

Often, after removing braces, some experience disappointment when looking at their changed face in the mirror: it seems to them too narrow, and their cheekbones are noticeable. In fact, after braces, the face acquires its natural contours, becomes symmetrical and proportional: with a normal bite and teeth in their place. That is, a person sees in the mirror the appearance that he would have by nature if not for the existing pathology. Many see these changes as positive.

How does your face change after braces are removed? In general, it acquires its natural physiological form. Here are the changes a person may notice:

the asymmetry of the oval of the face disappears;
the lip line will become smoother;
An overly heavy, protruding chin is reduced.

The question of how the face changes after braces can generally be answered in a positive way. With the restoration of the bite, the entire dental system begins to work correctly: the load on the muscles and ligaments is distributed evenly, which helps eliminate visual defects.

Correcting malocclusion is much easier in childhood and adolescence, when the bones of the face are not yet fully formed. But adjustments are also possible in adults, it just takes longer.

However, the problem should not be neglected and a visit to a specialist should not be delayed. The sooner orthodontic treatment is started, the faster its results will be achieved: you will get a symmetrical oval face and will be able to show off your beautiful smile without embarrassment.

Why is this leveling and treatment better than surgery?

Today, plastic surgery can correct any facial imperfections, both very minor and major. But any operation has a number of disadvantages:

seams;
long rehabilitation;
possible side effects.

In addition to its main task, installing braces can also be used to harmonize the face. Moreover, often the result of treatment by an orthodontist can even surpass the work of a surgeon.

With the help of braces, you can get plump lips, pronounced cheekbones, and an improved cheek and chin line without having to go under the surgeon’s knife.

If you get braces, don't be afraid that they will change your face. Due to the deformation of his teeth, his features are already changed. Most often, along with a beautiful smile, installing the system makes it possible to obtain more harmonious and pleasant facial features. For those who wear braces, it is important to regularly visit a specialist and follow all his recommendations.

Oral care while wearing braces

It should be remembered that during this period, particularly careful oral hygiene is required. Braces are a non-removable structure, and pieces of food get stuck under them, which need to be removed in a timely manner. Regularly carefully clean the oral cavity and the braces system itself with a special brush every time after eating. While wearing braces, it is advisable to floss to remove food debris between the teeth and rinse them using an irrigator. If you neglect your oral care during this period, your teeth may develop caries.

Useful tips

Prevention, including the following actions, will help to avoid unpleasant phenomena and complications:

Choose an experienced, highly qualified doctor . The success of treatment, which must be properly planned, and the corrective device correctly selected and installed, directly depends on the skillful actions of a specialist.
Eliminate dental disease before placing braces. To preserve teeth and prevent the occurrence of oral pathologies, it is important to cure caries, perform professional cleaning, replace fillings, and coat the enamel with special strengthening compounds.
Maintain good hygiene. The importance of cleansing the oral cavity has already been discussed. It is necessary to supplement daily care with the use of an irrigator, floss, and a dental brush. Brushing your teeth should last longer, all actions should be careful.
Visit the orthodontist according to your schedule .
Scheduled visits are necessary to monitor the correct progress of treatment, adjust the position and tension of the arch, replace ligatures, adjust traction and springs, and assess the quality of plate fastening. The frequency of visits is determined by the doctor individually, and depends mostly on the complexity of the defect and the model of the device.
Eat properly. To preserve the enamel coating and prevent dental diseases, you need to adhere to a diet, namely, limit the consumption of sugar, carbonated drinks, solid foods, and diversify the menu with foods high in vitamins and individual microelements (fluorine, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus).
Wear retainers for a period determined by the orthodontist . To consolidate and maintain the result of the correction, it is necessary to use retainers. It is unacceptable to ignore or violate the timing of the retention period.