Can braces treat my protruding upper lips?

Doctor's Answers 1

Photo of Dr Poon Kee Hwang
Dr Poon Kee Hwang

Dentist, Orthodontist

Some people would kill for thick lips! Protrusive lips, on the other hand, may make it difficult of you to keep your lips closed in a relaxed way and affect the way you smile and talk.

It is important to determine the cause of the protrusive lips.

Could it be your upper front teeth that are protrusive, pushing out the upper lip?

Could it be the upper jaw bone that is too protrusive?

Could there be an underlying gum problem causing the upper teeth to flare forward and as a result, the upper lips are protruding?

It is important that the cause of your protrusive bite be determined before the correct braces treatment can be recommended and discussed.

Braces treatment that changes the position of your upper front teeth can reduce the amount of lip protrusiveness but bear in mind that the thickness of your lips means that it is not a 1:1 ratio between tooth and lip movement.

Have a great week ahead!

Cheers,

Dr Poon Kee Hwang

Similar Questions

Do braces change your facial profile?

You have asked a very interesting question and I am afraid the answer is yes and no! I will try to explain it as best I can. Braces CAN change profiles: Braces can change profiles only when the orthodontists and the patient plan to get it changed from the START of the treatment. A good example is when patients complain that when taking photographs, they notice that their side profile is sticking out and they have a very full smile (most patients use the terms, I look like a horse!) In this case, braces can help to retract the teeth to allow the patient to have a softer, gentler profile.

Photo of Dr Sylvia Tan

Answered By

Dr Sylvia Tan

Orthodontist

Should I do my dental crown or braces first?

It is better to get your braces done first before your crown. This is because the tooth and gum position will move and it may affect the final crown work. The crown surface may also be damaged during braces work (risk is small) which means that you may need a new crown after braces. If you want to be treated with subsidy you will need a polyclinic referral letter. However please note that there are no subsidies for any orthodontic treatment. You can be seen by the postgraduate students at NUS for a slightly reduced price for braces if you wanted to.

Photo of Dr Sylvia Tan

Answered By

Dr Sylvia Tan

Orthodontist

Ask any health question for free

I’m not so sure about a procedure...

Ask Icon Ask a Question

Join Human

Sign up now for a free Human account to get answers from specialists in Singapore.

Sign Up

Get The Pill

Be healthier with our Bite-sized health news straight in your inbox