Braces are a convenient way to straighten your teeth or shift them, improving their appearance and function. By breaking up your biting pressure across all your teeth, fixed braces are also beneficial to your long-term dental and gum health and make eating easier.

The soft tissues that lay over your teeth – your cheeks and lips – will conform to the new alignment of your bite if you choose braces or Invisalign to adjust their alignment. Losing teeth sometimes causes a person’s face to look “sunken in.” The change in the shape of your face will be gradual with braces, and among adults whose bones are already fully developed, it is less noticeable. An orthodontist will be able to tell you if there will be any changes in your teeth, if any, as a result of adequately aligning them. They can then give you an appropriate answer if you ask, “do braces alter the shape of your face?” based on your specific situation

How do braces affect your face shape?
Once orthodontic treatment is completed, there may be a slight change in the appearance of your face. However, this will be very gradual. A slight change in facial features may occur after an overbite treatment.

Does Invisalign change the shape of your face, nose, lips, or jawline?
If you have Invisalign, you can also move your lips in certain situations. As opposed to Invisalign, where your teeth are aligned with your lips, there isn’t a “buffer” between them. You don’t see a significant change in the size or shape of your lips during this process. Although Invisalign cannot straighten your upper teeth, it can still affect your lips and side profile by bringing your upper teeth into proper alignment. 

Our patients prefer clear aligners over traditional braces because they have the most negligible impact on appearance and daily activities. 

Do you want braces or Invisalign? What to Do Next
Orthodontic therapy is complex because it relies on an in-depth understanding of how your facial features, jaw, and teeth align. The orthodontist will plan your treatment based on your physical characteristics, including your front and side profiles. 
Schedule your appointment with a dentist today and get the treatment on time!