Protruding Mouth Correction
In protruding mouth correction, it is important to create an attractive profile without the front teeth ending up tilted inward or flared outward.
At Ceramic Dental Clinic, we create natural front-tooth angles so you do not have to worry about retreatment.
What is a protruding mouth?
A protruding mouth is when the mouth appears to stick out further than the tip of the nose or chin when the face is viewed from the side. Regardless of your intentions, a protruding mouth can make you look sullen or stubborn. It can also make it hard to give a refined, gentle impression and may cause self-consciousness about your appearance.
Most cases of protruding mouth are caused by genetic factors (structural factors of the teeth and jawbone), but besides genetics, it can also result from bad habits (thumb sucking, nail biting, mouth breathing, resting the chin on the hand, etc.).
Symptoms of a protruding mouth(self-check)
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In profile photos, your mouth sticks out further than your nose or chin.
When a straight ruler is placed from the tip of your nose to the tip of your chin, your lips touch the ruler.
Protruding teeth make your lips look thick.
The angle between the nose and upper lip is 90 degrees or less.
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People often say you look sullen or stubborn.
Your mouth is often open, and the inside of your mouth tends to be dry.
A lot of gum shows when you smile.
You strain to close your mouth, and wrinkles easily form around your chin.
Effects of protruding mouth correction
As the mouth moves back, the bridge of the nose stands out more.
You can close your mouth comfortably.
You gain confidence when smiling, and an attractive smile line is created.
The chin wrinkles that appeared when closing the mouth disappear.
FAQ
Tap a question to see the answer.
Can orthodontics bring my mouth back too?
If the protrusion comes from the teeth, orthodontics can change how your mouth looks. If it comes from the jawbone, the range that orthodontics alone can change is small. So I first check the cause, and at the same time judge whether extraction is needed and whether the mouth might end up too retracted.
How do you decide whether to extract teeth?
We look together at how much space is lacking, the inclination of the front teeth, lip thickness and your profile, the thickness of the bone supporting the front teeth, and your age. Lips become thinner with age, so you may look different 10 years from now. I explain this while showing you the cephalometric measurements.
Is all the extraction space used to pull the front teeth back?
No. Using all of it could pull the mouth back more than necessary, so we divide the space between how far the front teeth move back and how far the back teeth move forward. When needed, we use mini-screws (small screws) as anchors, and we reassess your profile partway through treatment to adjust the plan.
Does the possible change depend on the cause?
Yes. When the front teeth are tilted forward, orthodontics often improves things. If the gum bone supporting the front teeth sits forward, there are limits, and if the jawbone itself is forward, we discuss surgical orthodontics together. If the lips are thick, how much they change varies from person to person.
How does treatment proceed, and what is daily life like?
The order is detailed examination, explanation of the plan, placing the appliance, regular adjustments, a midway check (reassessing the profile), removing the appliance, and the retainer. For about the first week you may feel aching and your speech may feel awkward. Be careful with hard or sticky foods, and clean around the appliance with an interdental brush.
Do I have to have teeth extracted?
It depends on how much space is lacking and on your profile. If space is very short and the teeth are aligned without extraction, the front teeth can tilt further forward, so in such cases we recommend extraction.
Will my mouth look sunken after treatment?
Because of that possibility, we divide the space when planning and recheck your profile partway through treatment. Even so, we cannot say there is no chance at all. If the mouth has gone back too far, there is a range that can be improved with corrective orthodontics.
Can this be done with clear aligners?
Depending on how much and in which direction the teeth need to move, clear aligners may suit some cases while fixed appliances are better for others.
Will my face shape change too?
What changes is the teeth and the area around the lips. The shape of the jawbone does not change with orthodontics.
Do mini-screws hurt?
They are placed under local anesthesia, and for the first few days you may feel some soreness or a foreign-body sensation. They are removed when they are no longer needed.
Side effects and limitations
- Root resorption, where tooth roots become shorter, can occur, and the degree varies from person to person.
- The gums may recede or dark triangular gaps may appear between the teeth.
- If the retainer is not worn properly, the teeth can move again.
- When the jawbone is the cause, orthodontics alone may not achieve the profile you want.
Treatment results and side effects may vary from person to person.