Metal Mouth Message Board

Hi everyone....

I have only been in my braces for 2 1/2 months, but I have had several people comment on the appearance of my face. I have heard two things...my cheek bones look more defined and I look more youthful. Now, I have lost 10 pounds since getting my braces due to my altered eating habits, so I think most of the "change" could be attributed to that. I am just curious if others with basic orthodontic issues have experienced facial changes as a result of braces? I can assume that individuals with complex cases, i.e., major jaw/bite issues, but what about those with less complex cases?

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

I'm nine months braced and no facial changes here. It is likely do to losing the 10 lbs. When I lose weight it shows in my face first...wish I could do it now!

I haven't noticed any changes, other than the fact that I lost 25 lbs, but my co worker said she noticed my face shape has changed. Who knows...

I got major, major cheekbones from my braces pulling my mouth forward - which I love! I also feel that my lips look more full. My teeth are almost in place, and as far as face-structure change, I do feel that the bottom of my face is a little more squared off than it used to be. I have a heart-shaped face, and it's not quite as tapered as it was (in a good way).

I also think my cheekbones are more prominent. I had figured it was secondary to a combination of the bulk of my braces pulling my lips forward and my molar build-ups lengthening my face... just a guess, though.

My dad said that since i had my lowers in, and they started working, it looks like my lower jaw is more..wide? I think he imagined it though. Though i have had people tell me my profile changed a bit.

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

Regardless of what caused the change, I will take the cheekbones and the "youthful" compliments!

My cheekbones definitely became more pronounced after the first two months. My orthodontist noticed it and asked if I had lost weight as she said a lot of her patients do. I weighed the same on the scales so the change must have been due to the action of the braces. It was a good change though!

My face did change and is still changing. When I first got braces I was told I looked thinner (not a good thing for me), even though I did not lose any weight. Now that my bottom jaw is being pulled forward my face is changing again. All part of the process I guess.
www.allbraced.blogspot.com

I've had braces twice, the first time round to correct a very bad overjet (about 12mm) and the second time in preparation for jaw surgery.

Obviously my face changed a lot after surgery, but even the first time I had braces I noticed a big difference. My overjet was so bad it kind of distorted the soft-tissue around my mouth in quite a disfiguring fashion (even my own mother didn't like my appearance) so I looked a fair bit better once my teeth had been brought in (although still pretty terrible until I had surgery).

My pallet is narrow so my ortho informed me that some facial structural changes might occur and even noticed once I'm done with braces. I embrace the changes.

Also she measured my face to determine the optimal positioning of different features. By using measurements she can better determine which adjustments need to be made so I fall with in the standard means.

@KMG: Could you tell me in how far your bite is wrong (overbite, overjet, ...)?