Metal Mouth Message Board

Hi
I've been for one Orthodontist consultation and really wasn't happy with him. So, tomorrow I've got another appointment with a different Orthodontist (this one has be recommended by 2 people - so fingers crossed!)
I'm hoping for ceramics top & bottom.
Anyway, i was just wondering how much of an effect your braces have had on your facial structure?
This is the thing that i'm most worried about but obviously i'll talk it through tomorrow.
It would be great to hear of your own personal experiences
Thanks in advance

My friend just had her braces taken off. She had to get a few teeth taken out before she got braces (not sure how many) but at the moment it looks like her lips have sunken into her face. My ortho mentioned something about that, and how he was going to avoid that situation by not extracting any teeth.

I didn't have any teeth extracted, but in the ten weeks of having braces I have noticed some changes...one side of my face seems a bit sunken - my teeth on that side have rotated inwards a bit - I assume it will even up with time.

My face seems generally just a bit longer!

I got 4 teeth extracted one year ago to correct my overbite problem. My friends and colleagues told me that my face looks much thinner. To me, it's good as I had a very round face before.

The most coomon facial change you will see is from frowning in your before picture to smiling in your after picture

My face has definitely changed shape nearly 3 months into wearing braces. It looks thinner & my cheekbones are more defined (which is nice) but with clear Damon braces at the top it looks like I've got a bit of a fish pout going on at the moment (sure that will go when they are removed). It's hard to tell whether the thinner face is down to the movement of my teeth or the fact that I'm not snacking so much because I can't be bothered to keep going to brush my teeth.

Does anyone have any idea how exactly braces are making faces thinner?

I personally think it's due to less eating and/or a better diet. At least that's the case for me!

drrick wrote:The most coomon facial change you will see is from frowning in your before picture to smiling in your after picture

I love this comment, soooo true!


My face got smaller because I lost 20lbs. I did not have extractions.

My face is thinner too (I had 2 extractions on the bottom). I miss my full face- but hopefully the straight teeth at the end of this will make up for this.

My face definitely got thinner for awhile. No one can tell me different. One cheek is a bit more profound than the another too. It was bad and a big source of stress for me.

It is much better although it is not as full as it was before. I miss my fuller face, but what can you do? I'm gonna have a beautiful smile soon

Lioness wrote:My face definitely got thinner for awhile. No one can tell me different. One cheek is a bit more profound than the another too. It was bad and a big source of stress for me.

It is much better although it is not as full as it was before. I miss my fuller face, but what can you do? I'm gonna have a beautiful smile soon

Did you have any extractions?

Other folks who's faces have thinned, did you have extractions?

I don't know if this has anything to do with braces, but one side of my face has thinned out quite a bit. Even my ortho noticed - asked if I lost weight. I haven't had any extractions, so I'm not sure why this has happened. Just getting old, maybe??

One thing that you might attribute to the face "thinning" is it you had a curve of spree prior to treatment. The leveling of this curve can extrude your posterior teeth, which will in turn increase your facial height. This increase in facial height, along with the downward rotation of the mandible could cause your cheeks to sink in a little bit.

To simulate the effect look at yourself in the mirror with your mouth closed and pay attention to the way your cheeks react when you slowly open your mouth. Extrusion can imitate this movement.

I had 4 teeth extracted, premolars, and I don't think my face has changed shape at all.