Hello everyone,
I’m currently undergoing orthodontic treatment and will be getting braces on both my upper and lower teeth soon. I wanted to ask for some advice or opinions because I’m worried about how my face might change throughout the process.
Here’s my situation:
• My upper and lower teeth are crowded, and I have overlapping teeth.
• My lower teeth are pushed inward, while my upper teeth are pushed outward.
• This might be due to my swallowing habits and the fact that I’ve been sucking my lips since childhood.
• I will have braces for 2–3 years, followed by a retention wire behind my teeth and a retainer.
My orthodontist answered me in a very evasive way by saying “don’t worry you’ll stay the same” but I’m still concerned and not satisfied with this answer.
My concerns:
1. Jaw width – Right now, I like that my chin is well-projected, and I have a well-defined jawline. However, my jaw isn’t very wide, and I’d actually prefer a wider look rather than losing definition. Since my teeth are currently crowded and misaligned, could aligning them make my jaw appear wider? Or could it actually make my jaw look narrower by bringing my teeth closer together?
2. Overall facial changes – Since my lower teeth are currently pushed inward and my upper teeth are pushed outward, how will my face change once they are properly aligned? Will my lips, cheekbones, or general facial structure be affected in a noticeable way?
I also have a supernumerary canine between my lateral incisor and my natural canine on the upper arch, which makes my case a bit more complex.
I’d love to hear from people who have had similar cases or any experts who can give me insight. I’ll attach my X-ray images to this post. Thanks in advance for any advice!
I’m currently undergoing orthodontic treatment and will be getting braces on both my upper and lower teeth soon. I wanted to ask for some advice or opinions because I’m worried about how my face might change throughout the process.
Here’s my situation:
• My upper and lower teeth are crowded, and I have overlapping teeth.
• My lower teeth are pushed inward, while my upper teeth are pushed outward.
• This might be due to my swallowing habits and the fact that I’ve been sucking my lips since childhood.
• I will have braces for 2–3 years, followed by a retention wire behind my teeth and a retainer.
My orthodontist answered me in a very evasive way by saying “don’t worry you’ll stay the same” but I’m still concerned and not satisfied with this answer.
My concerns:
1. Jaw width – Right now, I like that my chin is well-projected, and I have a well-defined jawline. However, my jaw isn’t very wide, and I’d actually prefer a wider look rather than losing definition. Since my teeth are currently crowded and misaligned, could aligning them make my jaw appear wider? Or could it actually make my jaw look narrower by bringing my teeth closer together?
2. Overall facial changes – Since my lower teeth are currently pushed inward and my upper teeth are pushed outward, how will my face change once they are properly aligned? Will my lips, cheekbones, or general facial structure be affected in a noticeable way?
I also have a supernumerary canine between my lateral incisor and my natural canine on the upper arch, which makes my case a bit more complex.
I’d love to hear from people who have had similar cases or any experts who can give me insight. I’ll attach my X-ray images to this post. Thanks in advance for any advice!