Do Braces & Invisalign Change Your Face Shape, Nose, Lips & Jawline?

Do Braces Change Your Face Shape?

This is a common question, as is: does Invisalign change your face shape? 

It depends. 

Using braces or Invisalign to adjust the alignment of your teeth means that the soft tissues laying over them — like your cheeks and lips — will conform to the new alignment of your bite. That’s why a person’s face sometimes looks “sunken in” when they lose teeth. With braces, the change to your face shape is a gradual one. It’s less obvious in adults, whose skeletal features are already completely developed. 

During your orthodontic consultation, our Ottawa orthodontist, Dr. Charles Cohen, can pinpoint which areas, if any, might change once your teeth are properly aligned. That way if you’re wondering “do braces change your face shape,” Dr. Cohen can give you an individually appropriate answer. 

Do Braces Change Your Nose Shape or Make It Bigger?

Some people want to know specific details like, “do braces change your nose shape?”

No. They do not. Even though braces can adjust the width of your upper jaw, they don’t extend into the structures that affect the shape and size of your nose. 

However, if braces adjust your upper teeth and jaws enough that the shape of your profile in that area changes, it could potentially make it seem as though your nose looks a bit different, especially from the side. 

For example, if the lips are brought out more or back in, it will adjust your overall facial profile directly next to your nose. As a side-effect, it can create the illusion of your nose changing shape. 

Do braces make your nose bigger? No, but if they pull your upper teeth back significantly, the completed treatment could create the illusion that your nose is protruding more than before. However braces on their own will not make your nose bigger.

Do Braces Change Your Lips and Make Them Look Bigger?

Yes, braces can change the position of your lips, but only as much as the teeth immediately behind them change. It has nothing to do with braces changing your lips as far as fullness or shape. 

For example, if you have an underbite and we bring your upper and lower front teeth into the proper alignment, it can create the appearance of a plumper upper lip. If you have top teeth that jet out and we bring them back by several millimetres, it will allow for your lip to fall back a bit, as well. 

Your lips are a protective barrier over your smile. If you get hit in the mouth, they guard you against fractured teeth. Getting treatment like Invisalign or traditional braces will only change the “base” that your lips rest against. 

Side note: If you’re wearing traditional braces using a bracket and wire system, you may temporarily notice that your lips look bigger. This is due to the extra width created between your teeth and lips. It’s not that your lips are larger, but rather they cannot sit as far back against your teeth until the braces finally come off. 

Do Braces Change Your Jawline?

If Dr. Cohen uses interceptive orthodontics (growth modifying treatments, aka orthopedics) in younger patients, then yes, it’s possible that braces and other appliances can adjust the shape and size of your jaws. 

But, can braces alone change your jawline if you’re an adult? 

Not much. The only way to significantly change your jawline as an adult would be through surgical measures. Such medical procedures are usually quite complex and completed in close collaboration between Dr. Cohen and an oral surgeon. 

Does Invisalign Change Your Face Shape, Nose, Lips or Jawline?

Invisalign can change the position of your lips too in some circumstances. But with Invisalign, there isn’t as much as a “buffer” between your teeth and your lips. So, you don’t see much change in your lip size or profile throughout the process. Yet, Invisalign still has the capabilities of bringing your upper teeth into the proper alignment, which can secondarily impact your lips’ appearance and side profile. 

Since the clear aligners seem to make the least bit of impact on your appearance and day-to-day activities, most of our patients prefer them over traditional braces. 

Ready to Get Braces or Invisalign? What to Do Next…

Understanding the delicate relationship between your facial features, your jaw, and tooth alignment is what makes orthodontic therapy such a complex service. Orthodontists like Dr. Charles Cohen will take your physical characteristics — like your front and side profiles — into account while planning your treatment. 

The first step in getting braces or Invisalign is to request a consultation with Braces Haven in Barrhaven. When you arrive, we’ll analyze your face and mouth — such as your lips, chin, jawline, nose, and teeth. That way, your personal orthodontic plan is one that benefits you overall. It boils down to more than just teeth!

Once we determine what your smile goals are, Dr. Cohen will review which type of orthodontic treatment works best for your needs. You play a direct role in determining whether you get classic braces or Invisalign. 

Use our form below to book your free consultation.