Orthodontic Side Effects: If You Start Without Knowing This, You’ll Regret It

I did braces because I was told my teeth would look better,

but the result was so different from what I expected...

I went to a clinic running a discount event to save money,

and the doctor in charge was changed midway...

It’s been less than a year since the braces were removed,

and my teeth are already shifting again...

Hello, I am Oh Su-hwan, the chief director of Smile D Dental Clinic in Gangnam.

Even though people start orthodontic treatment with excitement,

it is not uncommon for it to lead to regret.

As a board-certified orthodontic specialist certified by the Ministry of Health and Welfare,

I have encountered cases like these around me,

so I have organized the points you should definitely know before deciding on treatment.

Orthodontic failure and regret cases: the key points are exactly 5

Based on stories I have heard while treating patients over a long period of time,

the reasons people end up regretting orthodontic treatment can be narrowed down to five major categories.

When they choose a clinic based only on price,

when they trust SNS before-and-after photos as they are,

when they neglect retainer use,

when they did not know in advance about the natural changes that occur during treatment,

and when they focused only on tooth movement rather than overall facial balance.

As you read, check which items apply to you.

What happens when you’re drawn in by the lowest-price event?

Orthodontic treatment is not simply a procedure where brackets are attached and wires are tightened.

It is a highly specialized medical treatment that must take into account skeletal structure, tooth position, gum condition, and facial balance together.

But if you choose a dental clinic based on the lowest price or price alone,

one of the important criteria for choosing an orthodontic clinic,

“consistent care from the specialist in charge,” may be compromised.

At some clinics that promote low-price events,

the doctor in charge may be changed midway through treatment,

or the interval between visits may become excessively long.

Because tooth movement must be precisely adjusted at every visit,

reduced attention can affect the final result.

This is exactly why the standard should not be

“the cheapest place,” but rather

“the place with the specialist who understands my condition best.”

Do not trust SNS orthodontic review photos as they are

If you looked up before-and-after photos on SNS before your consultation,

there is one thing I would like to point out.

A large number of orthodontic side effects come from the expectation of wanting “a more dramatic result.”

Changes such as a reduced square jaw or a changed nose shape

are not the domain of orthodontics, but of double-jaw surgery or skeletal surgery.

If teeth are moved too aggressively through orthodontic treatment,

side effects such as gum recession or root resorption can also occur.

SNS review photos usually show cases with the best results,

and if your skeletal structure and dental condition are not the same, it is difficult to expect the same outcome.

To avoid orthodontic side effects,

it is more important to first check whether there is a treatment plan suited to your condition than to focus on result photos.

The day the appliance is removed is not the end

Teeth have a biological tendency to return to their original positions.

This is not a problem specific to any one clinic,

but a principle that applies after every orthodontic treatment.

This is why the period of wearing retainers after appliance removal is important,

and if this period is neglected, teeth may shift again after orthodontics,

which often leads to consideration of retreatment.

“Even though it hasn’t been long since the braces were removed, I already feel like my teeth are moving back,”

is something many patients say, and most of them had one thing in common: inconsistent retainer use.

It is important to choose a clinic that clearly presents a management plan from the start for care after treatment is finished.

These changes during treatment are normal

During orthodontic treatment, many people ask, “Is this normal?”

Spaces that look like black triangles between teeth (black triangles),

temporary hollowing of the cheeks,

or the awkward feeling when speaking at the beginning of treatment

are natural phenomena that can occur during the tooth movement process.

Whether you start treatment knowing about these changes in advance

or not

can make a big difference in how anxious you feel in the middle of treatment.

If a clinic provides thorough pre-treatment guidance,

it is standard to explain this during the first consultation.

For protruding-mouth correction, moving everything inward is not always the answer

Many people start orthodontic treatment to improve a protruding mouth,

but in such cases, careful planning is especially necessary.

If it is pushed back too much,

the lip support can collapse,

making nasolabial folds appear deeper or creating an aged look.

It can also lead to a result where the upper and lower molars do not fit properly, making the teeth look overly sunken.

What matters is

first distinguishing whether the protrusion is a skeletal problem itself (skeletal)

or a problem with tooth position (dental).

If extraction followed by pulling the teeth back is applied without making this distinction,

the overall facial balance may change in an unexpected direction.

The starting point is to determine which case applies to you through a precise diagnosis.

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Which category do I fall into? Three-step criteria

If you are preparing for an orthodontic consultation,

it is a good idea to first see which of the following applies to you.

If only the teeth are uneven without skeletal problems,

and you are an adult whose growth has completely finished,

you can prepare at a relatively relaxed pace while comparing clinics.

If you are also able to actively follow retainer care,

your satisfaction with the orthodontic result is likely to be high.

If it is unclear whether extraction orthodontics is needed

or if you want to improve a protruding mouth but cannot tell whether it is skeletal or dental,

or if you are an adolescent in a growth period and need timing decisions,

I recommend comparing directions through a consultation with a specialist.

At this point, caution is needed if a clinic tries to have you pay the treatment fee right away without a precise diagnosis.

If you are already in orthodontic treatment but unexpected changes are progressing,

or your teeth are shifting again after the appliance was removed,

or a decision about surgical orthodontics is needed,

it is better to consult an orthodontic specialist as soon as possible.

Before the situation becomes fixed, rechecking the direction is the way to keep more options open.

When consulting, check this

If you are considering orthodontic treatment

and are preparing for a consultation at a dental clinic,

please note the following points.

Whether the doctor in charge will not change during treatment,

whether a detailed diagnosis (X-rays, 3D CT, dental model analysis, etc.) is performed at the first visit,

and whether the possible side effects and treatment limitations are explained honestly are also important criteria.

I also recommend checking during the first consultation whether a maintenance system exists after treatment is completed.

Before deciding on orthodontics, check one last time

The surest way to prevent regret after orthodontic treatment is

ultimately to “know your condition accurately.”

More than which appliance is used or how fast treatment is,

the result is determined by who you establish the treatment goals with, based on your skeletal and dental condition.

Rather than choosing based on cost or event advertisements,

check whether it is a place that establishes the treatment direction together with you based on a precise diagnosis.

Thank you for reading today.

This was Oh Su-hwan, chief director of Smile D Dental Clinic.

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※ This post is an informational post from a medical institution that complies with Articles 56 and 57 of the Medical Service Act and related medical regulations.

It was written based only on informational content exempt from medical advertising review.

These images are explanatory materials to aid understanding, and actual treatment is determined after consultation with medical staff.