In orthodontic treatment in Islamabad, the braces are expected to have an impact as a teeth-correcting tool, but many people wish to know if it also influences lips formation. This question comes especially for those planning for an orthodontic treatment Do braces change lip shape? The braces can change lip shape to a certain degree and the amount of that change depends on many factors, including dental structure, the type of malocclusion, and the provided treatment plan.
This blog will explain how braces affect the lip, why, and what patients should expect during and after treatment.
How Braces Work:
The use of braces could alter the shape of one’s lip, let us have a brief overview of braces’ functioning first. It is a fact that braces function continuously and lightly to adjust the positions of the teeth. They are used to correct a range of dental issues, including:
- Overbites and underbites
- Crowded teeth
- Spacing issues (gaps)
- Crossbites
There is a choice of metal brackets, ceramic brackets, and sometimes clear aligners like Invisalign. The treatment normally requires between three years. Braces take time to rearrange the teeth.
Can Braces Change Lip Shape?
Braces can affect the shape of your lips by moving your teeth and jaws. The position and alignment of the teeth and jaws beneath determine the thickness of lips.
Here are some ways braces can affect lip shape:
Adjustments Caused by Teeth Straightening:
When your teeth are crowded, gapped, or misaligned, your lips realign to that position specifically.
Overbite correction: If you have an overbite you will notice that your upper lip is more defined because your top teeth are protruding. Depending on your situation, afterward, your upper lip may flatten or descend to a normal position once the overbite is adjusted.
Underbite correction: The lower jaw grows forward than the upper jaw which can lead to a protruding lower lip.
Teeth crowding: If your teeth are crowded and are touching your lips, this puts tension on the lips and this might affect the shape of the lips.
Jaw Repositioning:
- Orthodontic treatment of the jaws can restore the normal position of the jaws from a facial point of view and thus the lips
For example:
- Sometimes, after an overbite has been repaired, the upper lip may look less plump because the teeth are no longer protruding and compressing it.
- Orthognathic surgery rectifies an underbite wherein the lower jaw cannot close properly in the upper jaw; after braces.
- Applying braces to correct them can result in attaining a better proportional facial structure.
Lip Support:
Braces have an indirect effect on how much of a ‘support’ teeth provide lips. Protruding or retruded teeth affect the thickness or thinness of lips.
- If the teeth protrude prominently then this may give lips more fuller look.
- Similarly, lower anterior teeth that occlude too far back may be inadequate in providing support to the lips, and, therefore, flat lips appear as thin ones.
- Based on specific comprehensive options such as braces, it is possible to move the teeth forward, thereby providing better support to the lips, which in turn will be more prominent.
Temporary Changes During Braces Treatment:
During treatment, brackets and wires may distort lips. In a normal metal brace, this effect is particularly noticeable. Most of the braces part can protrude the lip outward, they may look fuller than normal.
If you prefer clear aligners such as Invisalign, there will probably be less influence on lip shape because aligners are significantly less thick and sit closer to the teeth.
What to Expect?
Braces can affect the shape of your lips by moving your teeth and jaws. It will help your lips to adjust by providing a new position of your teeth, lips, and jaws hence giving you the right balance.
Factors Affecting Lip Alterations When Wearing Braces:
Several factors can affect how much your lip shape changes during orthodontic treatment:
The severity of the dental issue:
- Some people may notice the changes to be more prominent than others will do it for themselves.
- Your objectives for orthodontic treatment determine the amount of movement for your teeth and jaw,
Final Thoughts:
Braces do work to correct misalignment of the teeth and the bite surface but at the same time slightly alter the shape and positioning of your lips. If you’re concerned about how braces will look on your lip, you should visit Dynamic Clinic PK and consult with Dr. Usama Hayat Ghouri, our best orthodontist, about this issue. He will provide you with a more detailed explanation of what is required of you, depending on your dental problem and face shape.
