Wondering Whether You Really Need Surgery for Protruding Mouth Correction?

Wondering Whether You Really Need

Surgery for Protruding Mouth Correction?

Hello.

I am Kim Tae-hyung,

director of Gangnam Blanche Dental Clinic.

These days, the number of people

coming in for consultations

because of a protruding mouth

has increased noticeably.

During consultations,

many people come in already worried,

asking, “If my mouth protrudes because

of a bone problem, doesn’t that mean

I need surgery?” ㅎㅎ

To give you the conclusion first,

when we actually conduct an examination,

there are far more cases than you might expect

that can be improved sufficiently

with orthodontic treatment alone,

without surgery. ^^

So today,

I will explain in simple terms

which cases can be treated with orthodontics alone,

and which cases may require consideration

of surgery as well.

1. Protruding mouths have different causes

Not every protruding mouth

is the same.

Even when the mouth appears to protrude

in the same way,

the causes can be broadly divided

into two types,

and distinguishing between these causes

largely determines whether orthodontic treatment

will be sufficient or surgery will be needed.

One type is a dental protrusion,

in which the front teeth are tilted outward,

pushing the upper lip outward as well.

In this case, moving the teeth

back into their proper positions

naturally brings the lip line inward too.

The other type is a skeletal protrusion,

in which the jawbone itself

projects forward.

In this case, moving only the teeth

has limitations, so a surgical approach

may be necessary. ^^

2. You cannot distinguish them by looking in the mirror

The problem is that it is difficult

to tell which type you have

just by looking in the mirror.

That is because the mouth appears

to protrude in much the same way

when viewed from the side. ^^;

An accurate distinction requires

a cephalometric radiograph

to measure the angle of the teeth

and the position of the jawbones.

3. In practice, the dental type is more common

Here, I would like to share

some good news. ^^

In actual consultations,

dental or combined cases,

which can be expected to improve

with orthodontic treatment,

are much more common

than skeletal cases that absolutely require surgery.

To create space to bring

the protruding front teeth inward,

premolars are extracted,

and then the entire group of front teeth

is moved backward into that space.

This can noticeably change

the lip line and side profile.

The treatment period is usually

around two to three years,

and it may take somewhat longer

the more severe the protrusion is.

That was a rather long explanation, wasn’t it? ㅎㅎ

4. Cases in which surgery may still be necessary

Of course, not every protruding mouth

can be addressed with orthodontic treatment alone.

If the jawbones themselves

project significantly forward,

as in a skeletal case,

a surgical approach to correct

the position of the jawbones

may also be considered.

This is a major procedure

in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery,

so a separate, detailed diagnosis

and consultation with a specialized medical institution

are necessary.

However, even among people

who come in assuming

that they have a skeletal case,

examinations often show

that the dental component is more significant.

5. Ultimately, the order of steps matters

Rather than deciding in advance,

“It must be a bone problem,”

I recommend getting an accurate diagnosis first.

Before feeling burdened

by thinking about surgery first,

it is important to determine

whether your case can be treated

with orthodontics.

Following that order alone

can make a definite difference

to the outcome. ^^

In closing

Whenever I meet people

who have spent a long time

walking with their heads lowered

because of a protruding mouth,

I feel saddened.

If you are wondering

whether your protruding mouth

is closer to the dental type,

please feel free to leave a comment

at any time.^^

This was Gangnam Blanche Dental Clinic.

Thank you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Does a protruding mouth

always require surgery?

A. No. For dental or combined cases,

improvement may be expected

with orthodontic treatment alone.

Q. How can I tell whether

it is a dental or skeletal case?

A. An accurate distinction requires

measuring the angle of the teeth

and the position of the jawbones

with a cephalometric X-ray.

Q. How long does orthodontic treatment

for a protruding mouth take?

A. It usually takes around two to three years,

and the treatment may take longer

the more severe the protrusion is.

Q. Are there cases that cannot be treated

with orthodontics alone?

A. If the jawbones themselves

protrude significantly,

as in a skeletal case,

a surgical approach may be necessary.