Before and After Protruding Mouth Correction: Principles, Advantages, and Disadvantages of Clear Aligners and Lingual Orthodontics for Protruding Mouth

Before and After Protruding Mouth Correction: Principles, Advantages, and Disadvantages of Clear Aligners and Lingual Orthodontics for Protruding Mouth

Hello.

I am orthodontic specialist Oh Su-hwan with 18 years of experience.

An attractive mouth shape is one where the lips are about 2–4 mm behind the line connecting the tip of the nose and the tip of the chin.

Usually, when the lips are in front of this line, it often indicates a protruding mouth.

Because facial impression is influenced by the mouth shape,

many people with a protruding mouth are often misunderstood as looking stern or angry.

So, you may be reading this article because you want to improve a protruding mouth through orthodontic treatment and change your impression..

Rather than the traditional bracket method that places “tracks” on the teeth,

you will likely want a way to straighten your teeth without others noticing.

As you probably already know, invisible orthodontic methods include

'lingual orthodontics for a protruding mouth' and 'clear aligners for a protruding mouth (such as Invisalign)'.

In today’s article, I’ll explain the principles and features of each orthodontic method in detail,

so if you are considering before-and-after methods for inconspicuous protruding mouth correction,

please read on and take away the information you need.

Orthodontics that are not noticeable:

Comparing clear aligners for protruding mouth and lingual orthodontics for protruding mouth

Before and after protruding mouth correction

First, as shown in the image below, lingual orthodontics

is a method in which brackets are attached to the inside of the teeth (the tongue side) for treatment.

It uses conventional metal brackets, but because they are placed on the inside of the teeth, they are not easily visible.

The treatment principle is the same as regular labial (outer-side) orthodontics.

Brackets, which are orthodontic appliances, are attached to the inside of the teeth,

and when the orthodontic wire is inserted,

teeth move due to the elastic force that tries to straighten the wire.

However, because force is applied from the inside, this method requires fine adjustments by the medical team.

✅ Advantages & disadvantages of lingual orthodontics

The biggest advantage is that the orthodontic appliance is not easily visible.

However, because the appliance is attached to the inside, the space where the tongue rests is relatively reduced.

As a result, you may feel speech changes or a foreign-body sensation from the tongue at the beginning,

and oral hygiene management is relatively more difficult.

In addition, because the fabrication process is somewhat more complex than regular orthodontics,

the treatment cost is generally about 1.5 to 2 times higher than that of labial orthodontic appliances.

The second invisible orthodontic appliance I would like to introduce is the clear aligner.

Its principle is different from orthodontic appliances that use wires and brackets.

Although the principle of moving teeth is the same, the way orthodontic force is delivered is different.

Clear aligners use removable transparent plastic trays

and move the teeth by applying force more broadly across the teeth without brackets.

The process involves designing the ideal tooth arrangement and making step-by-step aligners,

then replacing the aligners at regular intervals to gradually achieve the desired alignment.

✅ Advantages & disadvantages of clear aligners

The biggest advantage of clear aligners is also that they are not easily visible.

Because the appliance looks like a transparent film, it allows you to maintain a natural appearance during treatment.

Also, it is convenient because you can remove the appliance during meals or important occasions,

and it is generally easier to keep your teeth and gums clean than with traditional bracket orthodontics.

However, patient compliance is extremely important.

To see results, it must be worn consistently for 20–22 hours a day,

and the aligners must be cleaned thoroughly and managed with strict hygiene.

Also, the cost is relatively higher than that of standard orthodontic appliances.

Invisible orthodontic appliances:

Can they also be effective for protruding mouths?

Before and after protruding mouth correction

The most common question is whether you can really see clear orthodontic results with such invisible appliances.

Let’s first look at the core principle of orthodontic treatment for a protruding mouth, and then continue the discussion.

1. First, to move protruding teeth backward, space is needed to align the teeth.

Generally, space is created by extracting premolars, or in non-extraction treatment, interproximal reduction (IPR, minimal reduction between teeth) can be performed.

2. During tooth movement, the created space is used to pull the front teeth backward.

To do this, anchorage devices (mini-screws) or orthodontic appliances are used to move the teeth in the correct direction.

3. Application of orthodontic appliances

Brackets (fixed orthodontic appliances) or clear aligners (removable appliances) are used to guide tooth movement.

In the case of lingual orthodontics, teeth move according to the same principle as regular bracket orthodontics,

so the effect of improving a protruding mouth is similar to that of conventional orthodontic appliances, and retraction after extraction is also possible.

Meanwhile, there have been opinions that clear aligners

have limitations when it comes to fully closing spaces after extraction.

Recently, however, clear aligner technology has advanced, and it can now be applied to most orthodontic treatments, including extraction cases.

That said, when a large amount of tooth movement is required in extraction treatment,

it may be difficult to complete treatment with clear aligners alone.

If you want a more dramatic before-and-after result for protruding mouth correction,

it is most important to receive an accurate diagnosis from an experienced orthodontic specialist,

and choose the orthodontic method that best suits your condition.

So far, we have looked at two ways to straighten teeth without being noticeable.

Because the appropriate treatment may vary depending on your tooth alignment, gum condition, jawbone structure, and other factors,

I think the wisest approach is to decide after consulting with an experienced orthodontic specialist.

Thank you for reading this long post.