Do braces change face shape? What orthodontics can and cannot do to your face

Key facts

• Tooth movement mainly affects lip support and the area around the mouth
• Extraction alone does not “flatten” a face; incisor position matters
• Growth guidance in children can influence jaw development
• Major adult jaw changes need surgery with orthodontics
• No good evidence that mewing reshapes adult bone

How teeth support the lips and lower face

The lips rest on the front teeth, so changing the position of the incisors can alter how full or prominent the lips look. Moving protruding front teeth back can reduce lip protrusion and make it easier to close the lips comfortably; moving retroclined teeth forward can add a little support to thin lips. Correcting a deep bite can slightly increase lower-face height, and closing an open bite can change how the lips meet at rest. These changes are usually subtle and are most noticeable in the area around the mouth. The nose, cheekbones and chin are largely bone and cartilage and are not significantly moved by tooth movement alone.

Extraction versus non-extraction — the profile myth

A long-running claim is that removing teeth for braces flattens the face. Research suggests the effect depends far more on how much the front teeth are retracted and on the person’s starting profile than on extraction itself. In someone with protrusive lips, retraction can improve balance; in someone with an already flat profile, unnecessary retraction may be unflattering, so a non-extraction approach is often chosen. Equally, avoiding extractions at all costs by pushing teeth forward can make lips more prominent. A careful orthodontist plans incisor position for both a healthy bite and a balanced profile, using photographs and X-ray analysis.

What growth, expansion and surgery can change

In growing children and teenagers, functional appliances and expansion can influence how the jaws develop, which can have a more visible effect on the profile than braces alone. In adults, the facial skeleton has stopped growing. Bone-anchored expansion such as MARPE can widen the upper jaw and dental arch in suitable patients, which may broaden the smile and reduce dark corners, but it is not a way to reshape the jawline. Significant changes to jaw position or chin projection in adults require orthognathic (jaw) surgery combined with orthodontics. Cosmetic expectations about cheekbones or jaw angles are best discussed openly at assessment.

Mewing and other online claims

“Mewing” — pressing the whole tongue against the palate — is promoted online as a way to reshape the jaw and face. Good tongue posture, lip seal and nasal breathing are valuable for oral function, and myofunctional therapy can support orthodontic and airway care. However, there is currently no good scientific evidence that mewing changes the bone structure of the adult jaw or face, and forceful habits can strain muscles or teeth. In young children, oral posture and breathing do influence growth, which is why early assessment of mouth breathing matters. Be cautious about before-and-after photos online, which often reflect lighting, posture and camera angle.

Planning your facial goals at Manhal

If facial appearance is part of your reason for treatment, say so at the start. At Manhal Medical Center in Dubai, consultant orthodontist Dr. Moaiyad Pacha assesses your profile, lip support, smile and airway with photographs, a digital intraoral scan and X-rays — with CBCT only when justified — and explains which changes are achievable with aligners, braces, expansion or a surgical pathway, and which are not. You receive a written plan with realistic expectations. Dr. Pacha holds a clinical PhD from Queen Mary University of London and RCS orthodontic qualifications; contact the clinic for his Dubai dates.

It is never too late to straighten teeth. Adult orthodontics often works alongside implants, veneers or gum treatment, and discreet appliances fit professional life.

Prepared by the Manhal Medical Center editorial team · Updated: 2026-10-31 · Treating specialist: Dr. Moaiyad Pacha

This page is general information and does not replace a consultation. Suitability, risks and results vary between patients.