Could It Be Me Too? Everything About Choosing the Right Orthodontic Clinic for Protruding Mouth Correction

I’m Oh Su-hwan from Smile D Dental Clinic.

Could It Be Me Too? The Exact Criteria for Protruding Mouth and Everything About Choosing the Right Orthodontic Clinic

When you suddenly look at your side profile in the mirror,

or see an accidentally taken photo,

did you ever think,

“Do I maybe have protruding mouth?”

If your mouth looks pushed forward, it can give a somewhat abrupt impression and feel less refined, so it often becomes a source of insecurity.

That is why many people search online for the criteria for protruding mouth and try self-diagnosis.

Smile D will tell you everything you want to know:

the exact criteria for protruding mouth and the tips for choosing a protruding-mouth orthodontic clinic without failure.

More than self-diagnosis, ask a medical professional

Many people use a self-diagnosis method in which they place a ruler against the tip of the nose and the tip of the chin to check whether the lips touch it.

This can be somewhat helpful as a reference,

but because everyone has a different nose height and chin shape,

a precise diagnosis is impossible with this method alone.

At an orthodontic clinic, protruding mouth is judged using the following

much more precise and scientific criteria.

Esthetic Line (E-line)

This refers to an imaginary line connecting the tip of the nose and the tip of the chin in a side-view X-ray or photo.

For Koreans, it is considered most ideal when the upper lip is positioned about 1 to 2 mm behind this line.

If the lips touch this line,

or are positioned significantly in front of it,

it can be diagnosed as a protruding mouth.

Position of the jawbone (skeletal analysis)

What matters even more is identifying the cause of why it protrudes.

Through 3D-CT and X-rays,

the relationship between the upper and lower jawbones is analyzed.

This is because the treatment plan changes completely depending on whether it is skeletal protrusion, where the jawbone itself has grown forward, or dental protrusion, where the jawbone is normal but only the teeth are flared forward.

Orthodontic treatment without an accurate analysis of the cause has a very high chance of failing or, conversely, making the mouth go in too far and creating a sunken look.

Protruding Mouth Orthodontics Q&A

For protruding mouth orthodontics, do teeth absolutely have to be extracted?

Not necessarily.

In the past, extraction was prioritized to secure space,

but thanks to advances in diagnostic technology,

non-extraction cases are now much more common.

If precise diagnostic results show there is enough space to move the teeth backward,

or if improvement is possible by adjusting the angle of the teeth alone,

there is no reason to remove healthy teeth unnecessarily.

At Smile D, we follow the principle of minimal extraction

and preserve the patient’s natural teeth as much as possible. How long does treatment usually take, and does it hurt a lot? It varies depending on the patient’s condition, but on average it takes about 1.5 to 2 years.

Pain differs from person to person, but usually when the appliance is first attached or for 2 to 3 days after a monthly treatment,

you may feel some soreness.

However, recently, self-ligating appliances such as Clippy C have been used to reduce friction,

so the pain is much less than in the past, and there is no need to worry too much. Can I see the effect immediately after orthodontic treatment is finished? Of course. As the teeth move, the position and shape of the lips change,

and the side line connecting the nose to the chin becomes smoother,

creating a more refined impression.

Many people say that beyond simply the mouth moving back,

the overall atmosphere of the face changes.

Through 3D virtual simulation,

we predict what the result will look like in advance

and make it accurately match that result.

The reason orthodontic treatment costs differ from person to person The cost can vary depending on the type of appliance and the patient’s condition.

Therefore, rather than relying on vague stories online about how much someone paid,

it can be more helpful for estimating your budget to meet with a medical professional directly and receive guidance.

In particular, costs may vary depending on the policies operated by each clinic,

so please be sure to keep this in mind.