Yes, aligners can influence certain aspects of facial shape, particularly the form of your lips in specific situations.
Clear aligners, like Invisalign, are designed to gradually move your teeth into new positions. While their primary function is tooth alignment, these changes in tooth position can sometimes impact the soft tissues surrounding the teeth, including the lips.
According to studies and observations, while clear aligners generally "will not influence the other facial features", they "may significantly alter the form of your lips in specific circumstances." This means that while you shouldn't expect changes to your nose, cheeks, or overall face shape, the alignment of your teeth can affect the structure supporting your lips, potentially leading to noticeable changes in their shape or projection.
These changes in lip form are not guaranteed for everyone and depend on several factors, including:
- The extent of tooth movement required.
- The original position of your teeth and lips.
- The specific type of orthodontic treatment being performed.
- Individual facial anatomy.
For instance, correcting severe overbites or underbites with aligners might involve significant changes to the front teeth, which can directly impact how the lips rest and appear.
Understanding these potential outcomes is part of discussing your treatment goals with your orthodontist. While the focus is on straightening teeth for a healthy smile, the subtle effects on lip shape are a recognized possibility in certain cases.
