Konkuk University Dental Hospital: Is It True That Orthodontics Makes the Nose Look Higher?

Hello, this is S Leader Dental Hospital at Konkuk University Dental Hospital.

One of the things people most often wonder about when coming in for an orthodontic consultation is facial changes, and among them, the question, “I heard your nose looks higher after orthodontic treatment—is that true?”

When people hear from others that their nose looks more defined than before, their side profile has changed, or their facial lines seem more refined, it is natural to become curious about this. But can orthodontic treatment really make the nose look higher?

Is this just a phrase born from personal experience, or does the facial structure actually change?

This is one of the points patients most often misunderstand and ask about during long-term treatment, so I will explain it in a bit more depth, but in an easy-to-understand way.

Orthodontic treatment does not literally make the nose “higher.” First, there is a basic fact to know.

Orthodontic treatment does not directly change the bones or cartilage structure of the nose.

The nose is made up of the nasal bone, cartilage, and soft tissue, and it is structurally completely separate from the teeth and alveolar bone. Moving the teeth cannot directly cause an anatomical change that makes the nose longer or higher.

Even so, many people say, “My nose looks more prominent” or “My nose bridge looks sharper” because it is not the actual shape of the nose that changed, but rather the proportions of the face and the center line.

In other words, the nose itself did not change; the way it looks changed. This is the key point when interpreting facial changes after orthodontic treatment.

Why the nose stands out more when the mouth moves back Especially for people with protruding mouths, facial changes after orthodontic treatment are observed more clearly.

When the lips and teeth are positioned forward, in a side profile the mouth is often located in front of the face’s center, making the nose appear relatively less prominent. But when extraction orthodontic treatment moves the teeth back toward the center line and reduces lip protrusion, the mouth naturally moves backward, creating an optical illusion that makes the nose seem more protruded.

During this process, patients often say things like:

“Doctor, my nose suddenly has presence.”

“From the side, my nose bridge looks alive now.”

This does not mean the nose has become higher; it means the overall facial line has been refined, making the nose structure look more distinct.

Especially when lip protrusion decreases in the side profile, the space between the nose and mouth appears more natural, and the tip of the nose looks lighter and sharper, which is why people often describe it as having become “higher.”

[The impression created by changes in the nasolabial angle] Many people may not know the name, but in fact, the most important standard for showing the relationship between the nose and mouth is the nasolabial angle.

The nasolabial angle is the angle formed by the base of the nose and the upper lip. In cases of severe protruding mouth, this angle becomes narrower, making the space between the mouth and nose look almost connected. But when orthodontic treatment moves the teeth backward, this angle widens, and as a result, the nose seems lifted and the face appears much softer.

This nasolabial angle creates a particularly big difference in photos. When before-and-after photos are placed side by side, patients themselves often feel:

• “The side profile looks completely different.”

• “Before, my nose looked blurred, but now it looks clearer.”

The reason is precisely this change in angle.

When the jawline and the muscles around the mouth are refined, the center of the face changes. Orthodontic treatment is not simply a process of lining up the teeth.

Because it gradually changes the jaw position and the way the muscles around the mouth are used, the balance of the face itself can change.

In particular, for people who had crooked teeth, protruding mouths, asymmetry, or open bite, the jawline becomes naturally refined after orthodontic treatment, giving the entire face a softer and more polished appearance. In this process, a visual change also appears in which the nose looks more defined when viewed from the front.

That is why after orthodontic treatment, people say things like, “My jaw looks slimmer,” “My face feels smaller,” or “My expression feels more relaxed.”

All of these changes are the result of the environment around the nose changing, not the nose itself.

[Not everyone feels the same degree of change.] Not everyone experiences the same facial changes after orthodontic treatment. The extent of change varies greatly depending on the case, and the degree of protruding mouth is especially the biggest factor.

• Cases where the change appears significant

• Severe protruding mouth

• Extraction orthodontic treatment

• A type with strong lip tension

• Teeth that were generally tilted forward

• An unstable jaw position

• Cases where the change is small or almost nonexistent

• Cases where only alignment was improved without extraction

• Cases with little or no skeletal problem

• Cases where the side profile was already well balanced

Therefore, facial changes after orthodontic treatment can vary greatly depending on each person’s structure and treatment direction, and a professional diagnosis is essential to determine this difference accurately.

Orthodontics is not plastic surgery, but it is the most natural way to create facial harmony Anyone looks better when facial harmony improves. Orthodontic treatment is the most natural and healthy way to create that harmony.

When lip protrusion is reduced, the impression becomes softer; when the jawline is refined, the face looks sharper; and when tension in the muscles around the mouth decreases, the expression becomes more natural.

These changes come together to create various facial changes, including the feeling that the nose has become higher.

That is why orthodontic treatment is not simply a treatment for straightening teeth, but a treatment that can also change facial balance and impression.

At Konkuk University Dental Hospital, S Leader Dental Hospital, we also consider facial analysis. When planning orthodontic treatment, a good result cannot be achieved by looking only at tooth alignment.

At S Leader Dental Hospital at Konkuk University Dental Hospital,

1 3D CT analysis

2 Precise lateral profile analysis

3 Checking the harmony of the teeth, jaw, and lips

4 Aesthetic judgment of whether extraction is needed

5 Orthodontic simulation that also considers facial proportions

Through this process, treatment is carried out in the direction that produces the most natural and harmonious result for each patient.

In particular, many people wonder:

“How will my side profile change? Will my mouth move back a lot?”

We provide thorough explanations of these concerns during the consultation process and check the expected changes together. This kind of process leads to much higher satisfaction after treatment and makes it possible to achieve the desired facial balance more precisely.

The nose did not change; the balance of the face changed.

The statement that the nose looks higher after orthodontic treatment is true, but the nose itself did not change. As the mouth moves back, the jawline is refined, and the center line of the face shifts, a visual change occurs that makes the nose look more distinct.

This change is not exaggerated; it is a natural change that many patients actually experience.

If you are considering orthodontic treatment, please remember that it is not just a process of straightening the teeth, but a process that changes the harmony of the face.

At Konkuk University Dental Hospital, S Leader Dental Hospital, we establish orthodontic plans that also consider natural facial changes based on facial analysis, so if you want more detailed results, please feel free to seek a consultation anytime.

Konkuk University Dental Hospital :: S Leader Dental Hospital