Will Braces Really Ruin my Lips? (5 EPIC ANSWERS)

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Understanding The Basics of Facial Structure

• Your facial structure is comprised of multiple factors that all play a role in your overall appearance. For example, your jaw bone defines your chin and cheeks, and you can often notice a person’s overbite in their profile image. Your lips rest against your teeth, and an overbite can make your upper lip stick out in a way that you may or may not be happy about.
• Depending upon the degree of your overbite, it can also cause your lower lip to appear fuller. Since other factors influence your appearance, you may consider this extra fullness to be a good thing. However, severe overbites sometimes make it harder for the lips to come together, and people with this issue tend to hope that orthodontic treatment will improve the aesthetics of their smile.
• Your teeth and lips are connected by a muscular attachment called a maxillary labial fraenum. The maxillary labial fraenum connects the inside of your upper lip to your gums just above the two upper front teeth. As we all know, braces work by either pushing back the position of the front teeth so that the teeth will be aligned properly. In some rare cases, the front teeth are in an awkward position just behind the other teeth and need to be pulled back to the front.

What’s the Connection Between Braces, My Overbite, and My Lip Shape?

• An overbite will thrust your lips forward. The more pronounced your overbite is, the more your lips will puff out. If you like having full lips that form an attractive pout, you may be concerned about braces if they are going to change the appearance of your lips. You can expect your lips to appear less pronounced after the orthodontic treatment.

Your Facial Structure After Braces Removed

• Your overall appearance is dependent on several facial structures. For instance, your chin and cheeks are defined by the jaw bone. This makes it easy to spot someone’s overbite in their profile images. Your teeth hold your lips in place, and an overbite can easily make your upper lip to protrude, resulting in an uncomfortable feeling. Alternatively, your lower lip may appear to be fuller depending on the degree of the overbite you have. 
• Since your appearance is also influenced by other factors, you may consider the fuller lips like a good thing at the end. On the extreme side, a severe overbite can make your lips not to come into contact. People who experience this state must get assistance from an orthodontist to bring back their smile. 

Common Issues With Lip Shape During Treatment

• Before having braces removed, one of the biggest problems that occur with people who have traditional brackets is that they experience pain on the inside of their lip and their cheeks. The second most common problem is a chapped lip. Many people complain about chapping occurring because of the way that the brackets make their mouth expand.
• Again, the face has to adjust to the new hardware but the patient can do some things to speed up the process and to help themselves to get through the rough period. The most important thing for a person who is going through this is to avoid picking the flakes if they appear. Picking the flakes in any way will cause the healing to delay.

Recognizing the Importance of Correcting An Overbite

• People approach the need for orthodontic treatment with varying emotions. On one hand, you may be excited about finally achieving the smile of your dreams. Alternatively, you may be worried that your lips will get thinner or not poke out so much on the top. Either way, understanding why it is important to correct your bite helps you recognize the benefits of getting braces.
• When you are dealing with an overbite, it affects the way that you eat, speak and smile. For many children, an overbite is one of the reasons why they struggle with pronouncing certain words, and speech instruction may be necessary to address this problem before a child can get their bite fixed with orthodontics. Overbites that affect the adult jaw structure lead to issues such as chipped teeth when the top and bottom teeth tend to strike each other as you speak.
• It may also be difficult for you to chew properly, and some people experience digestive issues because they are unable to take proper bites out of their food. It is also common for people with overbites to struggle with maintaining proper oral hygiene since teeth that don’t fit together properly are harder to brush and floss. This can lead to decay and gum disease later in life when the bite problem is not corrected at an earlier age. Jaw pain caused by the added strain on the joints is also common, and these issues can progress to TMJ if the incorrect bite is left untreated.

Managing Your Expectations

• Aesthetic issues with your smile are correctible with orthodontic treatment. However, it is important to be prepared for any type of changes that you make to your facial appearance. While there are tons of images online depicting dramatic alterations to a person’s appearance, you should be aware that many of these are from people that had severe bite issues.
• If your overbite is small, you will notice a change in your lips, but it may be far more subtle. On the other hand, you could be one of those big reveal images that make you feel as though you can smile bigger and brighter once your treatment is over. Keeping your expectations to the right level is important, and you can use the help of your orthodontist to ensure that you know what your treatment can and cannot do to your lips.

Working With Your Orthodontic Team

• Correcting an overbite can take several months to a year or two depending upon its severity. This means that you will have ample time to build a relationship with your orthodontic team. It is important, to be honest about how you feel about your smile from the very first moment you walk through the doors for your initial consultation. This is because your orthodontist can work with you to make sure that your appearance is altered only as much as it is necessary to correct your bite properly.
• In some instances, it may be possible to stop your treatment before your bite is fully corrected. Do this if you feel that the appearance of your lips is changing too much. You may have enough improvement to prevent the long-term negative effects of an overbite. Your orthodontic team can also address any of your aesthetic concerns using certain methods. Such as computer renderings of what your smile will look like after your treatment.

Choosing Your Best Treatment Option

During your first appointment, you will talk about the many different ways that you can correct your overbite. For some people, traditional metal wires and brackets are necessary because the overbite is severe. Alternatively, Invisalign might be an option that can offer a more discreet way to correct your bite. With either treatment, you should expect your lips to protrude slightly. This is because of the additional thickness that the appliances place on your teeth. However, this fullness disappears as soon as the appliances are removed. At King Orthodontics, we address aesthetic issue every day. We know how important it is to love your smile. Contact Dr. Sam King and let us know about any concerns that you have about orthodontic treatment affecting your facial structure. We will help you find a solution for your overbite that leaves you ready to show off your favorite asset.