I get this question constantly: “Do braces and aligners improve facial symmetry?”
The common belief is yes—you straighten teeth, you fix your face. But once you understand the biomechanics of the jaw, dental height, and cranial structure, the answer becomes more nuanced.

Braces and aligners can improve symmetry in certain cases.
But they can also worsen it—especially when they reduce dental height, narrow the arches, or lock the bite.

Let me walk you through exactly how they affect your face, profile, jawline, and long-term symmetry… and what you can do to protect your facial structure if you’ve had orthodontics before.

 

H2: Why People Think Braces Improve Facial Symmetry

Most orthodontic marketing focuses on “a straighter smile equals a better face.”
That can be true if the treatment:

• widens arches
  
  
• supports the bite
  
  
• avoids extractions
  
  
• maintains dental height
  
  

But if braces narrow the arches or flatten the bite, your face can become less symmetric over time.

H2: The Missing Piece—Facial Symmetry Comes From Jaw Alignment, Not Straight Teeth

You can have perfectly straight teeth and still have:

• TMJ issues
  
  
• jaw asymmetry
  
  
• collapsed facial height
  
  
• uneven cheekbones
  
  
• weak jawline
  
  

Braces fix tooth position.
Jaw alignment fixes bone and structural position.
They’re not the same thing.

Reviv biomechanics clearly separates these concepts .

H2: How Orthodontics Can Help Symmetry (Best-Case Scenario)

Braces/aligners can improve facial symmetry when they:

• correct crossbite
  
  
• widen narrow arches
  
  
• reduce jaw shifting
  
  
• improve tongue posture indirectly
  
  
• stabilize the mandible
  
  

These changes can lift the midface and improve balance—when done correctly.

 

H2: How Orthodontics Can Harm Symmetry (Most Common Scenario)

Many orthodontic treatments unintentionally reduce symmetry by:

• narrowing the arches
  
  
• using extractions
  
  
• over-restricting jaw movement
  
  
• reducing dental height
  
  
• locking the occlusion
  
  

Reduction of dental height is the biggest problem.
 When height is lost, the skull collapses inward—flattening the face, jawline, and cheeks .

 

H2: The Dental Height Problem: Why It Matters More Than Straight Teeth

Dental height determines how much “space” your jaw and skull have.

Lose height →

• jaw rotates backward
  
  
• midface collapses inward
  
  
• facial symmetry declines
  
  
• cheekbones drop
  
  

This is the “balloon theory”:
 Less height = deflated skull = less symmetry .

H2: Why Extractions Often Lead to Facial Asymmetry

Removing teeth reduces arch width.
This creates:

• sunken midface
  
  
• narrower smile
  
  
• flatter cheeks
  
  
• increased skull compression
  
  
• asymmetrical collapse
  
  

Extractions almost always worsen facial harmony.

H2: Do Clear Aligners Improve Symmetry?

Aligners (like Invisalign alternatives):

Can help:

• small rotations
  
  
• mild crowding
  
  
• mild bite correction
  
  

Can harm:

• vertical compression
  
  
• bite locking
  
  
• excessive intrusion
  
  
• arch narrowing
  
  

Aligners don’t expand bone.
 They only move teeth within the existing structure.

H2: How Braces Affect Jaw Growth in Kids and Teens

Orthodontics during growth years can guide jaw development…
Or restrict it.

Good orthodontics →

• wider arches
  
  
• improved nasal breathing
  
  
• stronger jawline
  
  
• better facial symmetry
  
  

Bad orthodontics →

• narrow arches
  
  
• forward head posture
  
  
• facial flattening
  
  
• long-term asymmetry
  

H2: Can Orthodontics Fix a Crooked Jaw?

If the jawbone itself is misaligned, braces alone can’t fix it.
This includes:

• mandibular deviations
  
  
• condyle asymmetry
  
  
• TMJ imbalances
  
  
• cranial rotation
  
  

Straightening teeth ≠ straightening the jaw.

H2: Why Bite Locking Reduces Facial Symmetry

In a healthy mouth, your jaw should move freely—not be held in a fixed “perfect bite.”

Braces often lock the occlusion.
 But Reviv biomechanics shows the jaw needs freedom of movement for cranial expansion 

H2: How Orthodontics Can Increase TMJ Issues

Braces and aligners can trigger TMJ problems when they:

• reduce vertical height
  
  
• push the jaw backward
  
  
• tighten the bite
  
  
• limit natural jaw movement
  
  

And TMJ issues = facial asymmetry over time.

For more on TMJ, see:
What Causes Chronic Jaw Pain?

H2: Why Some People Look Worse After Orthodontics

Common signs include:

• flatter midface
  
  
• smaller smile
  
  
• weaker jawline
  
  
• less prominent cheekbones
  
  
• asymmetrical aging
  
  

This usually comes from collapsed dental height + narrowed arches.

 

H2: Braces and Your Jawline—Do They Help or Hurt?

They help when they:

• widen the arches
  
  
• improve forward jaw posture
  
  

They hurt when they:

• retract teeth
  
  
• collapse vertical height
  
  
• suppress jaw growth
  

H2: How Braces Influence Your Side Profile

A backward-rotating mandible =

• weak profile
  
  
• hidden jawline
  
  
• chin looking smaller
  
  

A forward-supporting bite =

• stronger profile
  
  
• longer jawline
  
  
• better neck posture
  
  

Alignment—not straight teeth—determines profile strength.

H2: How Your Jaw Adapts to Orthodontic Stress

Orthodontic treatments create tension.
Your jaw adapts by shifting, rotating, or compensating.

When done poorly, this compensation → asymmetry.
When done well, compensation → balance.

H2: The Airway Factor Orthodontists Rarely Mention

Orthodontics that push teeth backward reduce airway size.
Reduced airway = mouth breathing.
Mouth breathing = facial collapse.

For airway context:
Sleep Apnea and Jaw Alignment

H2: How Reviv Appliances Complement or Correct Orthodontic Work

Reviv appliances help by:

• restoring lost dental height
  
  
• decompressing the jaw
  
  
• unlocking the occlusion
  
  
• reducing grinding
  
  
• allowing the skull to expand outward naturally
  
  

These are the exact physics needed to counteract orthodontic compression .

H2: Signs Your Orthodontic Treatment Affected Symmetry

You may notice:

• one cheek smaller
  
  
• tilted jaw
  
  
• weak jawline
  
  
• flatter face
  
  
• narrow smile
  
  
• increased TMJ tension
  
  

These can show up years after braces or aligners.

H2: What to Do If Orthodontics Made Your Face Less Symmetrical

You can restore symmetry by:

• decompressing your jaw at night
  
  
• widening your arches with natural expansion
  
  
• stopping clenching
  
  
• avoiding bite locking
  
  
• using alignment-focused appliances like Reviv
  
  

The goal is to re-expand—not force teeth around.

 

H2: How Long Until You See Facial Symmetry Improvements?

Typical timelines:

• 2–6 weeks → less tension
  
  
• 1–3 months → better jaw posture
  
  
• 6–12 months → visible symmetry improvements
  
  

Biomechanics works gradually, but consistently.

 

FAQs

1. Do braces improve facial symmetry?

Sometimes—but only if they support jaw growth and arch width.

2. Can braces make facial symmetry worse?

Yes. Extractions and bite compression commonly reduce symmetry.

3. Are aligners better for symmetry?

They help minor issues but can still compress vertical height.

4. Does orthodontics fix jaw misalignment?

No—jaw alignment is skeletal, not dental.

5. Why do some people look worse after braces?

Because their dental height or arch width was reduced.

6. Can TMJ start after braces?

Yes, especially if the bite is forced backward or locked.

7. Can Reviv help after orthodontics?

Yes—Reviv helps restore the vertical dimension braces often collapse.

8. Will expanding my jaw improve symmetry?

Yes, expansion increases structural balance.

9. Does jaw alignment affect aging?

Absolutely. Misalignment accelerates facial collapse.

10. Can a mouthguard fix orthodontic damage?

It can support decompression and cranial re-expansion.

Conclusion

Braces and aligners can absolutely improve facial symmetry—but only when they respect the biomechanics of the jaw. When orthodontics reduces dental height, narrows arches, or locks your bite, your face can actually become less symmetrical over time.

If you want to protect or restore facial symmetry, the key is jaw decompression, added dental height, and free jaw movement—the exact physics behind the Reviv system.

Support your jaw.
Protect your face.
Start at the foundation.

👉 Click here to buy your Reviv Mouthguard: