Same Protruding Mouth, Different Orthodontic Treatment? Why the Cause Must Be Identified First: ‘Bone vs. Teeth’

Same protruding mouth, different orthodontic treatment? Why the cause must be identified first: ‘bone vs. teeth’

Hello, this is SmileD Dental Clinic.

A protruding mouth can make people misunderstand you as looking sulky, and it can also make the gums stand out every time you smile, or make your side profile something you become conscious of every time you take a photo. A protruding mouth goes beyond a simple tooth problem and has a major effect on our impression and confidence.

However, did you know that if you begin too hastily with the vague thought that “orthodontics will fix it,” you may end up with teeth that are too far back, or a “sunken-mouth” appearance?

The first step to successful protruding-mouth orthodontics is accurately understanding what type of protrusion you have.

What type is my protruding mouth?

A protruding mouth is broadly divided into two types, or sometimes a combination of the two.

Because the treatment plan changes completely depending on the cause, distinguishing between them is very important.

• Dental protrusion: This is when the position of the jawbone is normal, but the angle of the teeth leans forward, making the mouth look protruded. In this case, satisfactory results can be achieved simply by correcting the angle of the teeth inward.

• Skeletal protrusion: This is when the angle of the teeth is normal, but the jawbone of the upper or lower jaw itself protrudes forward. If only the teeth are moved inward, the likelihood of ending up with overly sunken teeth is very high, and a more complex treatment plan is needed to adjust the position of the bone.

Many people look into orthodontic treatment in Apgujeong and ask, “Do I have to have teeth extracted no matter what?” The decision on whether extraction is needed is made based on this cause analysis.

Dental protrusion, where there is not enough space to move the teeth backward, may require extraction, but if a detailed diagnosis shows that there is enough space, non-extraction orthodontic treatment is entirely possible.

Treatment that follows others without knowing the cause is bound to fail.

What if it is a skeletal + dental protrusion?

Sometimes the case is not just teeth leaning forward, but a more complex case such as skeletal Class I malocclusion.

In such cases, orthodontic treatment is needed, but it is not something that can be decided easily.

This is especially true for people who have jobs that involve meeting many people, or for those who place the greatest importance on aesthetics, because they cannot help but feel burdened by orthodontic appliances being visible.

That is why, in such cases, it is necessary to plan the orthodontics in a combined way.

To secure space for moving the protruding teeth inward, extraction orthodontics would be performed, while the appliances would need to be planned so they would not be visible.

For the upper teeth that are mainly visible when smiling, lingual orthodontics would be used by attaching the appliance to the inner side of the teeth, and for the lower teeth, which are relatively less visible, the treatment would be planned using ceramic appliances that are similar in color to the teeth.

If this approach is used, you can think of the treatment period as being about 1.5 to 2 years, although the actual treatment duration may vary depending on the patient.

It may take some time, but during that time the teeth that were protruding forward can find their proper positions and become neatly aligned, and the protruded mouth shape can naturally move inward.

Of course, if it is not such a case, the period may be shortened or a simpler orthodontic plan may be possible, so for detailed matters, we strongly recommend discussing them with the medical team before making a decision.

Could I become like that too?

Many people look at before-and-after photos and ask with hopeful eyes.

"Could I become like that too?"

Every time, I answer that of course, it is entirely possible.

However, it is not as though simply attaching orthodontic appliances alone completely changed the impression that much.

I emphasize that behind that remarkable change were not only the patient’s efforts, but above all a very accurate and meticulous diagnosis and treatment plan.

What we always set as the first principle is a “treatment goal that considers harmony across the entire face.”

Rather than thinking only about the side profile after orthodontics, we comprehensively evaluate the impression from the front, the natural shape of the lips, and even the position of the jaw to establish the most ideal goal.

Even with the same protruding mouth, the cause is different for each person.

• Cases where only the upper front teeth are leaning forward

• Cases where the lip muscles have weak tone, making the mouth look more protruded than it actually is

• Cases where the jaw position itself is set back, making the mouth appear protruded relatively

Only by accurately diagnosing the fundamental cause in this way can the proper direction for solving it be established.

In addition, to create a plan tailored to each patient’s unique dental condition, it is also important to run a detailed simulation based on a pre-orthodontic dental cast model to find the most effective path.

Only by approaching things this carefully, step by step, can you finish orthodontic treatment and hear not just “your mouth has moved inward,” but “your whole impression has changed in a truly softer and more refined way.”

If you have been thinking about orthodontics for a long time, I hope you find the courage to take the step before it gets too late. Thank you.