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broochie wrote:I am really wondering what it is that causes this gaunt look phenomenon. As much as I try to understand it, I can't figure it out. Ideas anyone?
I googled "metal toxicity and braces", you can try too. I am not sure if i believe it...but when a couple of people on the board are experiencing the same result, while others are not...and these people are all different ages, maturity may not be the only factor. I would also like to know if there is more scientific evidence supporting this belief Meryaten. Whatever the reason some people swear that metal toxicity through dental appliences and even fillings*amalgam*, can and does occur. science and controversies...sheeeeshhh...I think i'll just wait till my braces come off and build my own conclusion? maybe we can solve the gaunt look phenomenon!!!
So I seriously thought I was going crazy the other day because my cheeks looked significantly different. Glad to know I am not the only one noticing these changes. I thought maybe my face was changing with age (I am still young...22) I have really high cheek bones and a pretty round face so it just appeared that I had chipmunk or baby cheeks before which makes me look really young. However my cheeks have elongated I guess you could say, which has been somewhat of an improvemnt on my face since it was/is so round. Perhaps it's a little more oval now? Although my cheek bones are as prominent as ever now.
I guess the differance isn't as noticeable to others though. Went out drinking with my friends this weekend. The bouncer hardly glanced at my friend's ID's but he looked long and hard at mine. I guess it still appears that I have a fake ID
Check out my braces story by clicking the WWW
28 months and 22 days in braces
Now in an upper and lower Hawley retainer.
I second Meryaten about the scientific evidence. I really don't think this has anything to do with any kind of intolerance/allergy. If it was something similar to nickel intolerance for example, the reaction would be felt in the few hours (days at the most) following brace day. I also feel no itching in my mouth or dizziness or any of those symptoms that might be associated with an allergy.
So after thinking it over intensively, here is what I suspect : my upper arch was pretty narrow and V-shaped. Now the upper front teeth form a rounder, fuller shape, which makes my upper lip appear more protruted. But the lateral and back upper teeth still need expansion. So I guess I am in that intermediate stage when there is a discrepancy between the front part of my arch (rounded) and the lateral and back part. This probably causes the soft tissue on the sides of my face to "sink in". I don't know if this is clear and makes sense.
Broochie, it makes perfect sense!! The fronts are nicely arched, and the backs still need to round out and pull out. I think we just figured it out. I am also at that intermediate stage. I feel so amazingly good knowing there's others out there with this problem. And talking about it has made me a lot happier.
I know this topic has been quiet for a while, but I thought I might add my 3.5 cents.
I'm a 26 year old guy who has been in braces for 1.5 years to correct an overjet. Had 4 extractions. I have definitely noticed a narrowing of the lower face and a gauntness that accentuates my already prominent cheekbones.
After thinknig about it for a while, I have decided that the effect is the result of a lack of chewing. As we all know, braces require us to eat softer foods, no chewing gum etc. The area around the Jaw is defined by muscles and if these muscles aren't "worked out", just like any other muscle in the body they will waste away.
Anyhow, this is just a theory. I'm looking foward to getting these things off in 6 months at which time I will stock up on chewing gum to give my face a good workout and test out the theory.
I have nickel free braces and I feel that i have sunken look.
In my case premolars and molars were extruded to open my bite. So I think that this extra height of my teeth causes the sunken look.
Even with extractions, I don't think it will make a drastic difference. It's not like we're having orthognatic or cosmetic surgeries., just shifting the teeth around a bit. I doubt people will come away looking like the walking dead.
Upper and lower 1st premolars extracted
Uppers braced 4/6/07 & Lowers braced 4/20/07
ceramic brackets and rectangular arch wires
Est. term: 30-36 months
De-banded: 3/04/09 w/ LBR and U&L Essix
Hahaha Mer, I didn't mean to scare people, just saying that our orthos take all this into consideration. Hahahaaha...... When I saw it highlited, it made me giggle, thinking of zombies with braces.
Upper and lower 1st premolars extracted
Uppers braced 4/6/07 & Lowers braced 4/20/07
ceramic brackets and rectangular arch wires
Est. term: 30-36 months
De-banded: 3/04/09 w/ LBR and U&L Essix
Logically speaking, if you had a narrow arch and had braces put on, you should see your cheeks becoming more prominent, since your newly positioned teeth will be pushing the cheeks more from the inside.
I too have seen my cheekbone getting more defined, which makes me happy actually =)
It surprises me that anyone would think such manipulations of your body wouldn't make it look different.
My Ortho explained to me that there was the possibility that my face would change shape as a result of the braces. That's why they took pictures of my face from the front and sides. He then told me what the most likely (but not only) possible changes could be.
If my face changes, it changes. I'll have healthy teeth and I'll still be the same person (except happier due to the healthier teeth!).
It seems not all Orthos present this possible outcome with their patients before beginning. That's pretty unprofessional.
My face has changed shape since I got braces. My top arch has widened, so my face has just changed... I don't know how to describe it. It looks healthier and more mature.
I have noticed now that when I do go up or down even 5lbs, you can see it more dramatically in my face. My braces are visible underneath my lips, making them stick out, and then my cheek bones stick out too.
It has nothing to do with your age. I am 26 years old and up until 8 months ago before I got these stupid braces I was ALWAYS thought to be 17 years old. Always used to get complimented about how young I looked, always got complimented about my roundish features people thought were "cute." This is something I was very proud of (looking so young), that I was carded everywhere and everyone thought I was always younger than I was. I went to an audition once when I was 20 and the lady filming actually stopped filming my audition after my introduction to say "What? you're 20? wow I was about to ask you where your guardian was I thought you were 13!." By the way I am a singer/songwriter.... I am getting some great songs out of this whole depressing situation. Anyway, I ALWAYS got this from people. I started a job last year and everyone assumed I was 18 years old, when I told them I was actually 25 they couldn't believe it they told me I looked so young. By the way I look 27 now..... People always assume I am around 27 years old. Which is my real age ..almost but I am disappointed that I lost what I was so proud of and so happy with.
I find it impossible for my face to have changed due to maturity at this age. I am 26 and have had braces on for 7 months. My orthodontist assured me my face would NOT change but he in fact shaved my teeth down and pulled a molar out of my top row making my cheeks look sunken in and one side of my face is more sunken in than the other due to the tooth he pulled out, also my face is crooked. Other orthos I have seen say this is due to the relationship now with my teeth and gums and the way they're holding up my facial tissues. I TRIED discussing this with my ortho and he has the audacity to have someone else at the office call me to tell me "the Dr thinks it's silly and there is no way this could happen. He think's it's absurd." blah blah blah which made me even more pissed off. Well, honestly I started crying after that phone call... Ive been crying alot lately because I dont know what else to do. I feel like it ruined my career and my whole life. My whole family has noticed one side of my face is sunken in.... I am not the only one. The last time I saw my ortho he came over and his hands were literally shaking while his hands were in my mouth checking my adjustment. I am VERY VERY dissapointed in this whole process. My teeth were not so bad to begin with and now this whole thing has ruined the shape of my face. I always have to cover my face now because I am so embarassed about how crooked my face looks now. Other orthos have also told me that there is no solution to what happened to my face shape because I would have a bad bite because of him having shaved down one side too much. He needed to pull that top tooth out to give me a good bite but one side of my face will always be more sunken in than the other. Unfortunately its a very noticeable difference.
This has really disrupted my whole life. Self esteem was important to me, when I had it. I am having trouble functioning now. I think it definetly is very unprofessional of orthos to not mention face changing with braces when they start treatment because if it does this can really affect their lives for the worse. I spent many nights not sleeping thinking only about how I could fix what happened to my face. It has been a very depressing fight with no solution. I am continuing to call orthos to see if someone can help me. My question is.... what would my ortho have done if I would have so NO to him pulling out my top molar? So, I am going to bring this up to other orthos, I already had a bad bite to begin with. I told him about this many times right after he pulled it out and he still did not try re opening the space. It seems to me he does not care about his customers. He is not seeing me as a customer...... This really has been the worst experience of my life and I wish my face would even out but I need that implant for that to happen and the orthos are saying its not healthy for me to re open the gap. The way I see it is, this is not my fault... I asked my ortho about it and he fully lied to me saying it would not change my face and when I saw this happeneding I freaked out because my worst nightmare had come true.
maybe we can solve the gaunt look phenomenon!!! 
at least they would leave neat bite-marks on their victims!
