How Braces Can Thwart Growth Patterns (2024)

FAQs

How Braces Can Thwart Growth Patterns? ›

Unfortunately, braces can inhibit jaw muscle development, because the pressure from the wires keeps the teeth tender, which causes the jaw closing muscles to fire weakly, which can prevent them from gaining the strength they need to regulate facial growth.

Early orthodontic treatment can help expand the upper jaw, encourage forward growth of the lower jaw, and improve nasal breathing.

Retainers are not equipped to control or restrain jaw growth and it may be necessary to have a new retainer made if the one that you have no longer fits properly. However, adverse jaw growth is rare and is typically a concern only for patients with asymmetrical jaw growth or excessive lower jaw growth.

Yes, braces can change your jawline, your chin, the shape of your mouth, and even your lips. However, these effects are secondary to the actual reforming of your teeth and bite. Braces can tighten your jawline and your teeth, but this happens over time and imperceptibly.

It is generally believed however that a tooth can lose up to half of its root length and never have a problem. Root resorption is a normal consequence of orthodontic treatment. Hundreds of cases are treated exactly the same way without incident while a handful may experience obvious root shortening.

So braces usually function contrary to how the body is designed to grow. When you inhibit the growth of the maxilla, the growth of the jaw will also eventually be inhibited as well, since they work in relationship to each other.

Unfortunately, braces can inhibit jaw muscle development, because the pressure from the wires keeps the teeth tender, which causes the jaw closing muscles to fire weakly, which can prevent them from gaining the strength they need to regulate facial growth.

Typically, jaw growth stops by age 16 in females and 18-21 in males. Orthognathic surgery is usually done when the jaws stop growing. The need for surgical orthodontics occurs when the jaws do not line up correctly, and a proper bite cannot be achieved with orthodontics alone.

Importantly, jaw growth cannot be physically prevented after a certain age and is an important part of our oral development. Consult a professional about your child's projected jaw growth to learn whether an appliance that controls it will improve their oral health in the future.

For most orthodontic treatment, a majority of orthodontists recommend wearing a retainer for at least 10 years after you get your braces off or finish your aligner treatment. It's perfectly normal for many people to wear their retainers for the rest of their lives.

Can a weak chin be fixed with braces? ›

Treatment depends on the cause of the receding chin. Some websites advertise exercises or over-the-counter remedies for a weak chin, but they don't work. However, if your receding chin is linked to orthodontic issues, such as an open bite or overbite, you may be able to treat it with a retainer or braces.

Reduce Double Chins And Uneven Jawlines

Braces can help improve your smile's look, directly impacting how your cheekbones and jawline work together. Your cheeks will look more distinct and sharp as a result, which can improve your facial structure, helping you maintain a youthful appearance.

In summary, the face changes as much as the teeth reposition. That does not happen to all patients. Braces may affect the cheekbones, but they do not affect the eyes, eyebrows, nose, ears, or forehead.

Well, with all honesty, braces by themselves cannot cause your teeth to turn yellow. However, improper oral hygiene combined with the consumption of restricted food while having braces can contribute to the discoloration of your teeth.

Braces are absolutely worth the cost because they are going to give you a fantastic smile and make flossing and general oral care easier and more effective. Crowded teeth and more can often require further treatment in order to make sure that the teeth are aligned or are placed more closely to where they need to be.

Teeth can seem more symmetrical and aesthetically beautiful when they are correctly spaced and aligned. Your teeth may appear larger as a result of this improved aesthetic quality because they are more noticeable and catch people's attention.

If there is a gap between your flared teeth, traditional braces or Invisalign can fix the open bite without requiring extraction. If your teeth are crowded and spread out with no space, a combination of dental appliances and extractions may be necessary to treat the open bite.

Brackets and wires alone will not move your jaws; instead, they are tools used to realign your teeth.

How Braces Move Teeth Forward. In some cases, braces may be needed to push teeth forward towards the lips in order to correct issues such as an underbite. Using an archwire with shape memory (think of it as something similar to a memory foam mattress) pulls the teeth forward.