It's well known that braces straighten misaligned, crooked or gappy teeth, but it's less well known that braces also influence the structure of the jaw.
In some cases, the severity of malocclusion can change jaw alignment - which in turn affects facial features. Let's look at how braces influence the jaw and what that means for your confidence and oral health.
What is Orthodontics?
Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry focused on diagnosing, preventing and correcting dental and facial irregularities, including issues with teeth alignment and jaw structure. Braces are one of the most common tools used by orthodontists, alongside ceramic braces, lingual braces and clear aligners.
How Do Braces Work?
Braces apply constant, gentle pressure to the teeth and jaw to change their position. With fixed braces, the brackets and wires gradually move teeth into the desired position, overseen by your orthodontist. Wires are adjusted to influence the path of each tooth, and elastics can be used to influence the position of the jaw.
Can Braces Affect Facial Features and the Jaw?
In short - yes. Braces can affect the position and alignment of your jaw, which can in turn change how your face looks. During childhood our jaws develop at different rates and can create bite issues like crossbite, overbite and underbite.
Braces don't directly change features like face length or nose shape - instead, the angles between facial features can shift slightly. The angle between your nose and lips, and between your chin and lower lip, can change with treatment, making the nose and other features look subtly different.
People with moderate to severe skeletal issues see more noticeable changes; those with crooked teeth but a relatively normal bite may see minimal change.
The relationship between braces and jaw alignment in short:
- **Correcting bite issues** - braces are primarily used to address malocclusions, the problems with how the upper and lower teeth meet. By applying steady pressure over time, braces gradually realign teeth and improve the bite.
- **Jaw growth modification** - especially when treatment starts early, braces and additional appliances (like headgear or functional appliances) can guide jaw growth in a specific direction. This is particularly helpful for severe skeletal discrepancies.
- **Improved facial aesthetics** - correct alignment of teeth and jaws can create a more balanced facial profile.
How the Jaw Changes Through Treatment
The type of malocclusion being treated affects how the jaw changes.
Overbite
Most people have some degree of overbite - that's where the upper teeth overlap the lower teeth. If the gap is excessive, braces can help. Correcting an overbite typically improves the support for the lower lip and chin area.
Underbite
An underbite is where the lower teeth sit in front of the upper teeth when the mouth is closed, making the lower jaw appear to jut forward. Correcting the bite brings the chin position back and changes facial appearance in the process.
Open Bite
This is where upper and lower teeth don't meet when the mouth is closed, making biting and chewing difficult. Braces can close that gap, allowing teeth to come together properly and preventing the lower face from appearing overly long.
Crossbite
A crossbite is where some lower teeth sit in front of some upper teeth. In moderate to severe cases, the jaw can shift slightly to one side as compensation, creating a more asymmetrical look. Braces can correct the alignment, restoring symmetry.
Does Age Affect How Successful Treatment Will Be?
The earlier the issues are addressed, the better. Skeletal issues like underbite and overbite are easier to address when the jaw is still developing. That said, treatment is absolutely possible in adulthood - though for severe skeletal issues, jaw surgery may be combined with braces.
Talk to a Specialist Orthodontist in Sandbach
If you've noticed an impact on your oral health from a misaligned jaw or bite, our team can help. Cheshire Orthodontics is a specialist-led orthodontic practice in Sandbach with a friendly, passionate team.
Book a consultation today and take the first step.