Braces do not physically reshape the jawbone itself, but they can significantly alter the appearance of the jawline and the entire lower face profile. Orthodontic treatment works by correcting the alignment of the teeth and how the upper and lower jaws meet, known as the bite. This correction, especially when treating a significant misalignment, changes the support structure for the lips and cheeks. This modification in turn changes the visual contour of the chin and jawline. The degree of change depends heavily on the initial alignment problem and whether the issue is primarily dental or structural.
Braces Primarily Correct Dental Alignment
The core function of orthodontic treatment involves the controlled movement of teeth. Brackets, wires, and clear aligners apply light, continuous pressure to reposition teeth. This pressure causes bone tissue on one side of the tooth to resorb, while new bone is formed on the opposite side to stabilize the tooth in its new location. The primary goal is to achieve proper occlusion, which is the alignment of the upper and lower teeth when the mouth is closed. For most patients seeking treatment for minor crowding or small gaps, the aesthetic change to the jawline is often subtle or unnoticeable, as treatment focuses on aligning teeth within an already well-positioned jaw structure.
Bite Correction and Changes to Facial Aesthetics
When a significant misalignment of the bite, or malocclusion, is corrected, the impact on facial aesthetics can be pronounced. Correcting the position of the teeth changes the underlying support for the soft tissues of the lower face, including the lips and cheeks. This indirect change in soft tissue support modifies the perceived contour of the jaw and chin.
Overbite Correction
A severe Class II malocclusion, commonly known as an overbite, often presents with a lower jaw that appears recessed. Correcting this issue by moving the lower teeth forward can make the chin appear more prominent and defined, improving the overall profile.
Underbite Correction
A severe Class III malocclusion, or underbite, involves the lower jaw protruding past the upper jaw. Bringing the lower jaw back into alignment can soften the prominence of the chin and lower jawline. These aesthetic shifts are achieved by re-establishing a harmonious relationship between the upper and lower dental arches. The result is a more balanced and symmetrical facial profile.
When Orthodontics Targets Skeletal Structure
If the problem is rooted in a discrepancy in the size or position of the jawbones, known as a skeletal malocclusion, traditional braces alone may not be sufficient. Skeletal problems require treatments that can modify the underlying bone structure, which is a different approach than simply moving teeth. These treatments are often necessary when the upper and lower jaws have grown at different rates.
Treatment for Growing Patients
In growing children or adolescents, specialized functional appliances like headgear or Herbst appliances can be used to guide jaw growth and development. These orthopedic devices apply forces to the bone to encourage or restrict the growth of the upper or lower jaw. This effectively corrects the skeletal discrepancy while the patient is still developing, achieving significant changes in the jawline.
Treatment for Adults
For adults, whose jaw growth has ceased, severe skeletal discrepancies often require a procedure called orthognathic surgery, or corrective jaw surgery. Braces are still used to align the teeth within each jaw, but the surgery physically repositions the jawbones. This combined surgical and orthodontic approach is reserved for the most complex structural issues to achieve the final, corrected bite and jawline profile.