Can Braces Move Your Jaw? Understanding Jaw Movement and Orthodontic Treatment
The question of whether braces can move your jaw is a complex one, with the answer being a nuanced "yes, but..." While braces primarily focus on straightening teeth, they can indirectly influence jaw position in certain situations. It's crucial to understand the limitations and complexities involved.
What Braces Primarily Do:
Braces are designed to move individual teeth. They exert gentle, continuous pressure on the teeth, gradually shifting them into a more desirable alignment. This process involves the remodeling of the bone supporting the teeth. The bone resorption (breaking down) and bone formation (building up) allow for the teeth to shift.
Can Braces Affect Jaw Position? The Indirect Influence:
The "but..." part comes into play when we consider the relationship between teeth and jaws. The position of your teeth significantly influences your jaw's development and resting position. Therefore, by moving teeth with braces, an orthodontist can sometimes indirectly influence the jaw's position. This is more prominent in growing individuals than adults. Here's how:
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Early Intervention: In children and adolescents whose jaws are still growing, braces can sometimes guide jaw development. By correcting severe malocclusions (bad bites), orthodontic treatment can help ensure proper jaw growth and alignment. This might involve expanding the palate (upper jaw) or influencing the growth of the mandible (lower jaw).
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Addressing Underlying Issues: Certain jaw misalignments, like underbites or overbites, can be treated with braces in conjunction with other orthodontic appliances or, in some cases, surgery. While the braces themselves don't directly move the jawbone significantly in adults, they can help create space or reposition teeth to improve the overall bite and reduce strain on the jaw joints.
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Improving Bite and Reducing TMJ Strain: Correcting a bad bite with braces can often relieve pressure and strain on the temporomandibular joints (TMJs), which are the joints connecting the jaw to the skull. This can alleviate symptoms like jaw pain, headaches, and clicking in the jaw.
What Braces Cannot Do:
It's critical to understand the limitations:
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Significant Jaw Movement: Braces are not designed for, nor are they capable of, significantly repositioning the jawbones in adults. For significant jaw repositioning, orthognathic surgery is typically necessary.
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Changing Facial Structure: While braces can indirectly influence facial features by altering tooth and bite alignment, they won't drastically change the overall structure of your face.
What about jaw surgery?
Orthognathic surgery is a type of jaw surgery that corrects irregularities in the jaw's position and alignment. Sometimes, jaw surgery is performed in conjunction with orthodontic treatment. Braces are often used before and after the surgery to prepare the teeth for the surgery and then to refine the final position of the teeth after the jawbones have been repositioned.
How can I determine if braces are the right treatment for me?
Only a qualified orthodontist can accurately assess your specific needs and determine if braces are the right treatment option. They will conduct a thorough examination, taking into account your age, the severity of any malocclusion, and your overall jaw and dental health. They will then discuss your treatment options, including the possibility of jaw surgery if necessary.
This information is for general knowledge and should not be considered medical advice. Consult with a qualified orthodontist or dentist for any concerns about your teeth and jaw alignment.
