Can You Smile Again After Orthodontics Caused a Protruded Upper Lip?

I had orthodontic treatment because my mouth protruded..

But now it looks like a protruded upper lip.

Do I need another treatment?

Among some people who have had extraction orthodontic treatment,

many worry while experiencing symptoms of a protruded upper lip after orthodontics,

saying, “It feels like my mouth has sunken in too much. It seems even stranger than before.”

After receiving careful treatment over a long period of time,

it is only natural to feel stressed when concerns like this arise at the final stage.

A protruded upper lip, quite literally, refers to a state in which the upper front teeth are excessively tilted inward,

changing the angle of the teeth or the appearance of the mouth in an abnormal way.

This kind of protruded upper lip after orthodontics is not just an aesthetic issue;

it can also affect tongue placement when speaking, pronunciation, and lip shape,

so many people end up considering retreatment.

So, is retreatment always necessary?

Not in every case.

That is because there is also a possibility of restoring the teeth to an ideal position through a method called no-prep laminate veneers.

I’m a bit late introducing myself.

I am a board-certified orthodontic specialist certified by the Ministry of Health and Welfare with 18 years of experience,

and I have carried out more than 4,000 orthodontic treatments without any accidents.

Today, I’ll talk about the protruded upper lip problem that can occur after extraction orthodontics and how it can be addressed.

<Before-and-after orthodontic treatment photos>

Treatment period: 23.05.15 - 24.10.21 (about 1 year and 6 months)

Treatment period: 23.01.18 - 24.6.04 (about 1 year and 6 months)

Mr. Kim Byung* Treatment period: 23.1.17 - 24.12.07 (about 2 years)

Ms. Jo Gyeong* Treatment period: 24.09.02 - 25.03.04 (about 1 year and 6 months)

*The before-and-after treatment photos were posted with the patient’s consent, and the before-and-after photos were taken in the same environment and under the same conditions.

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Can protruded upper lips after orthodontics be resolved with no-prep laminate veneers? First, no-prep laminate veneers are an aesthetic treatment method that adjusts the direction or angle of the teeth by layering thin veneers on top,

while leaving the existing teeth almost untouched.

In particular, for people whose upper front tooth angle has been pushed too far inward due to a protruded upper lip after orthodontics,

and whose mouth appears sunken or feels awkward when speaking,

no-prep laminate veneers can be expected to push the teeth forward again.

In addition, because tooth reduction is not performed or is minimized,

one advantage is that aesthetic improvement can be expected without placing a burden on the teeth.

However, no-prep laminate veneers are not possible for every patient with a protruded upper lip.

If the teeth are pushed too far inward or are crooked, or if the bite is unstable,

it may be difficult to create the desired shape with the no-prep method, or functional problems may occur instead.

To determine these points, a 3D scan, lateral cephalometric analysis, and a detailed intraoral examination are necessary,

and case-by-case judgment is essential to decide whether no-prep treatment is possible or whether retreatment would be more advantageous.

If the protruded upper lip after orthodontics is severe,

reverse orthodontics should also be considered If the angle of the protruded upper lip after orthodontics is too far inward

or if the teeth are already tilted backward,

it may be difficult to resolve with no-prep laminate veneers alone.

In such cases, reverse orthodontics may be needed to use orthodontic appliances again to gently move the upper front teeth forward

and realign them to an appropriate angle.

Do I have to get orthodontic treatment again? Of course, that can feel burdensome.

But you do not necessarily need full orthodontic treatment.

These days, partial orthodontic treatment focused only on the front teeth is also possible,

and there are appliances such as Invisalign that are not easily visible,

so many people continue treatment without major inconvenience in daily life.

Invisalign clear aligners

However, reverse orthodontics is considered one of the more difficult cases even among orthodontic treatments.

Because it involves moving teeth that have already undergone orthodontic treatment once again,

it must be approached carefully so as not to place strain on the tooth roots or jawbone.

Even the treatment plan and the appliances used require a much more precise strategy.

Therefore, where you receive treatment can be an important decision that affects the outcome.

You should carefully check whether sufficient explanation is provided during the diagnostic process before orthodontic treatment,

and how much experience the medical staff actually has with reverse orthodontic cases. Many people want to resolve protruded upper lips after orthodontics with no-prep laminate veneers,

but in reality, there are clearly cases where retreatment is more appropriate after diagnosis.

I always approach patients with the standard of “creating the maximum result with the minimum method.”

But please remember that to decide what that minimum method is, examination and consultation must come first.

Treatment that preserves the teeth as much as possible while improving the mouth shape, restoring the angle of the front teeth, and resolving awkwardness when speaking,

we will help determine whether no-prep laminate veneers or reverse orthodontics is more suitable.

Please make a reservation and visit at a convenient time.

This has been Oh Soo-hwan, head doctor of Smile D Dental Clinic. Thank you.