Why does Functional Jaw Orthopedic type orthodontic treatment produce better faces?
A. Functional Appliances are capable of bringing a small, undersized, retruded lower jaw that appears weak or sunken back too far, out forward to a more normal, pleasing position that lines up better with the upper jaw making the face appear fuller with a broader more attractive “Hollywood” smile. Metal braces cannot move a sunken back lower jaw forward in this fashion. Metal braces simply can’t change the size nor alignment of the lower jaw. When it is back too far, making for a weak looking chin, all the orthodontists could do “in the old days” with the more limited metal braces technique was to retract the upper front teeth back (sometimes only after taking side teeth out) so the upper front teeth on top could bite against the lower front teeth (which actually sit in a lower jaw that is back too far). This technique often caves in the lips and smile line and often makes for a less full, less attractive, older appearance to the face and smile. In extreme cases it has even got it’s ow
