Do Braces Change the Look of Your Face? Yes — Here’s How

Will braces change the look of your face? Yes, especially if you have a strong overbite, underbite, or open bite. Your profile will become more aligned with braces. You may also see changes if you have a palate expander before braces. 

Surfside Smile Co. will let you know about the changes to your face when you are presented with your braces treatment plan at your first orthodontic consultation. 

Do Braces Ruin Your Jaw?

Some people think your moving teeth will weaken your jaw. This is why we make a specific treatment plan — to keep from damaging the bones in your jaws. Moving your teeth won’t ruin your jaw. Your bones are made to break down and rebuild themselves. It’s a natural process called remodeling and reabsorption. 

Pressure from the braces on your teeth causes the jawbone around the tooth roots to break down, allowing the teeth to move. Once they do, the bones rebuild themselves around the tooth root. 

We know exactly how much pressure is needed to move your teeth without damaging your jaw. That’s why you should always use a professional orthodontist to fix your dental issues. It’s a precise science that we are trained to do. 

Will Braces Make Me Unrecognizable?

They shouldn’t, no. The main part of your face that will change is the lower part, where your jaws are. So from the nose up, your face should stay the same. 

Here’s what will change:

• The way your lips line up in profile
• The width of your upper jaw if you get a palate expander
• The position of your chin if you have an underbite
• The width of your smile
• The symmetry of your face if we are correcting a crossbite

What won’t change is:

• Your cheekbones
• Nose shape
• Forehead height or width
• Eyes height or width

What Affects Orthodontic Facial Change

How much will your face change? It depends on three main factors:

• Severity of dental issues (particularly overbite/underbite)
• Age
• Treatment type

Younger patients still have developing jaws and bones, so they may have more change than older patients. So they might notice a bit more change. 

Your face won’t shrink or lengthen, and you won’t have dramatically longer or shorter jaws. 

Younger patients may notice more changes because orthodontic treatment can guide jaw development.

The Biggest Change

The biggest change we notice in our patients is when they stop covering their smile or laugh with their hands. Orthodontic treatment gives self-confidence as the smile is fixed and the teeth are straightened. 

Families tell us their children stop avoiding photos and happily show off their smile to others. That’s the biggest change. 

FAQ on Braces Treatment

Do braces change facial shape?

They can, yes. Younger patients might notice more of a change than older ones, but only on the lower half of the face. The upper half of the face shouldn’t be affected. 

What is “braces face” and is it real?

“Braces face” is a social media term suggesting braces cause a thinner or more hollowed appearance in the face. Research shows that dramatic facial changes from routine orthodontic treatment are uncommon. Soft tissue changes do occur, but they’re typically subtle and depend on specific movements. Most patients and families describe the results as looking like a better, more balanced version of themselves — not a different person. 

Will my child be unrecognizable after braces?

No, they will still be recognizable. Their face will change, but not so much as to be unrecognizable once treatment is done. 

Braces Treatment in Middletown, NJ

Want to see what you will look like after braces treatment or treatment with clear aligners? If you’re in Middletown, NJ, schedule an appointment with Surfside Smile Co.