Can Braces Change The Shape Of Your Jaw?
by Harold Coleman
Feeling unhappy with the shape of your jaw is a common cosmetic concern. While surgeries can be performed by plastic surgeons to change the look of your jaw, many people don't want to go under the knife for cosmetic reasons. The good news is, your dentist may be able to help change how your jaw looks without relying on surgical methods. Read on to learn how a simple pair of braces can do this for you.
In Youth
If you or the recipient of the braces hasn't reached adulthood yet, braces can help to change the shape of the jaw as it grows. This is an extremely useful process for children and adolescents who have excessively strong or weak jawlines.
When anyone gets braces, they come in regularly for an exam and to see how their teeth are moving. When a child comes in, the orthodontist will also examine the growth of the jaw to see how it's progressing. When a child's jaw is too strong, braces are utilized to slow the growth of the jaw. Alternatively, in the case of a weak jaw, braces can be used to help encourage the jaw to spread out gradually, which can also make more space for teeth in case of overcrowding.
In Adulthood
Once someone reaches adulthood, the jaw finishes growing, and major changes can't be made to its shape without surgery. However, that doesn't mean that your orthodontist can't help you.
If your jaw appears overly weak or strong, it may be due to the alignment of your teeth. If your teeth don't evenly rest against each other, it can create the look of an overbite or underbite, which can make your jaw look too strong or too weak, respectively. Adjusting the alignment of your teeth can improve how your jaw looks without altering your bone structure.
Finding Out How You'll Look
Orthodontists have more access to imaging tools than ever before. Many orthodontists can now show you what your smile will look like, as well as the shape of your jaw, following proposed treatment. To get this, you typically only need to go to an appointment with your potential orthodontist, be x-rayed and photographed, and allow the dentist to take a dental mold. From there, your orthodontist can enter your information into a computer and create an approximation of the improvement you will see and how soon it will occur.
Getting braces can greatly improve the look of your smile, but it can also drastically change how your jaw looks. If you're tired of having a weak or overly strong bite, contact an orthodontist at clinic like Reed & Sahlaney Orthodontics, LLP to find out how they can improve your appearance.
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About Me
I have never liked my teeth. I had a lot of dental problems, including deep staining and oddly shaped teeth. Every tooth did not have the same shape, and some were rounded while others were more square. Not surprisingly, I never smiled in pictures and not even much in real life. This left people thinking I was mean before they even met me. My dentist told me my best bet to improve the look of my smile was a set of porcelain dental veneers. He said they could make all my teeth white and the same shape. I said I wanted them without any hesitation, and we scheduled my procedures. I love my new teeth, and they really did change my life. I created this blog to help other people living with teeth they don't like realize that they do have options that can improve their smiles and their lives.