Plump or thin lips, a massive or sunken chin, smooth skin or pronounced wrinkles on the face – sometimes the features of our appearance are dictated by our bite, not genetics.
Rodolfo Clix
Russian dentist and founder of Smilestudio Luiza Avtandilyantalks about how a bad bite can change our appearance.
Bite– this is the ratio of the dentition at the moment when the teeth are maximally closed with each other. Sometimes, due to certain reasons – such as hereditary predisposition, birth trauma, prolonged breastfeeding, abnormalities in the development of soft tissues of the oral cavity and tooth loss, the bite is formed incorrectly. In this case, the length and width of the upper and lower teeth do not correspond to each other with a difference of several millimeters: it seems that it is not significant, but in fact this significantly affects both the appearance of a person and the general condition of his body.
Malocclusion can not only lead to serious health problems, including gum disease, enamel wear and premature tooth loss, gastrointestinal disorders, chronic migraines and even crooked posture, but also disrupt the external perception of the face.
Of course, problems with bite disrupt the aesthetics of a smile, making it unattractive. Crowded and uneven teeth make a person feel complex and even stop smiling, causing a lot of difficulties when communicating with interlocutors.
Distal bite, in which the lower jaw is moved back in relation to the upper row of teeth, disrupts the process of breathing and chewing food , and also gives the face a surprised expression, which is often perceived by others as indecisiveness or constraint.
With a deep bite, the height of the lower third of the face decreases, and the dentition does not touch each other in the area of the anterior and lateral incisors. This also causes noticeable facial disproportions: the lower lip protrudes forward and turns outward, which forces a person to constantly purse his lips and strain his facial muscles, experiencing discomfort.
The development of a massive and heavy chin is primarily influenced by mesial occlusion, or occlusion, because in this case the lower jaw protrudes forward, since it is larger in size than the upper. And an open bite, gaps in the lateral parts of the dentition and three (gaps) between the teeth lead to recession of the cheeks and disruption of facial symmetry, which also negatively affects a person’s appearance.
Bite correction
If you recognize yourself and notice signs of malocclusion, you should contact an orthodontist for a professional consultation. The doctor can offer various methods of correcting the bite: fortunately, today patients have the opportunity to choose the most convenient method of correction – classic braces or invisible aligners. It is important to remember that correcting the bite will take time, but the result is worth the effort: the oval of the face narrows, acquiring clearer outlines, the contours of the lips are restored, and facial asymmetry disappears. In addition, the visual perception of the shape of the nose changes and the nasolabial folds are smoothed, which creates a kind of anti-age effect.
And, of course, the smile itself changes for the better, the face becomes more harmonious, and the patient gains self-confidence. Therefore, if you find that the proportions of your face are disturbed, do not rush to go to a cosmetologist or make an appointment with a plastic surgeon – first, visit a dentist.