Sure, braces transform your smile – but their effects extend beyond your pearly whites. Depending on the patient’s age, braces can also change their facial structure.
How Braces May Change Your Facial Structure
The cosmetic benefits of having braces may be the reason most people begin their orthodontic journey, whether for themselves or for their children. A less known fact is how the process of braces can completely change someone’s appearance of the face.
Braces allow your facial symmetry to be restored by changing the position of the teeth. A few common problems that can be corrected with braces are:
Overbite – Causing the upper lip to stick out and cheeks to look sunken, an overbite makes people appear to have no chin and an undefined jawline. An overbite is one of the most common alignment issues people experience. Braces allow your bite to be in alignment by changing the way your teeth fit together and will establish a proper jawline for patients.
Underbite – An underbite will cause a person’s chin to stick out and results in the jaw looking too big for their face. The bottom lip protrudes over the top lip and causes their features to look unnatural, or like a “moon face.” With the aid of braces, the overall features of the face look softer and more natural.
Open Bite – With an open bite, the mouth always appears stretched and teeth look larger than they are. In some cases, people with an open bite are unable to close their mouths naturally. Braces will correct the alignment problem and give the mouth a more natural appearance.
Crooked Teeth – Braces correct any minor issues with alignment and spacing of the teeth that make it embarrassing to reveal the teeth by smiling or laughing. Once finished, you will be left with a smile worth showing off.
How Your Age Affects Your Orthodontic Treatment
Your orthodontic treatment plan will be specifically tailored to you, and your age is factored in how your orthodontist will manage your developing teeth. The age of each patient strongly factors into each individuals treatment plan as outlined below:
Children with Braces
Children between the ages of 7-10 are examined by an orthodontist to assess whether early orthodontics could aid in correcting already present issues. Early orthodontics can often reduce the need for further treatment in some patients, and begins treatment on the following:
- Crossbites
- Overbites
- Thumb sucking
- Chronic mouth breathing
- Snoring from sleep apnoea
Teens with Braces
The most common time to see braces on someone is during adolescence. This is mainly because most traditional orthodontic treatments require one to have their full set of adult teeth to achieve ideal dental alignment and facial balance. Beginning braces at this time can address.
- Protruding teeth
- Crooked, crowded or gap teeth
- Restoring symmetry to create a beautiful smile
Adults with Braces
Many adults are put off by the thought of “adult braces” because of the visions of metal brackets and looking less mature in appearance. With today’s advances in technology, there are now a range of treatments available for adults interested in orthodontic treatments like:
- Clear brackets
- Tooth colored braces
- Clear aligners, such as Invisalign
- Lingual braces mounted to the inside of the teeth
Any of these treatment options can help to fully restore one’s confidence from past issues such as severe jaw or facial imbalances.
Considering Your Malocclusion
The way your upper and lower jaws fit together is their occlusion. This relationship is incredibly important – and there are specific, common ways that it can be less than harmonious.
Your mismatched teeth may be creating more of an issue for you than just a bad bite. You may also have crooked, crowded or protruding teeth that can lead to gum disease, severe headaches and sleep disorders.
For your perfect alignment, come see us at Thomas Orthodontics and let us help you perfect your appearance with an equally perfect smile!
