Are sunken cheeks a side effect of orthodontic treatment?

Question

Hi doctor,

I put on tooth braces four months ago. My doctor extracted four of my teeth to put braces on. There are two upper premolars and two lower premolars. My cheeks were chubby before tooth extraction, and now it looks very sunken and hollow.

The gap is not filled yet, and I was advised only once in the last four months to get tightening done. Will I get the beauty of my cheek once this treatment is over?

Kindly suggest.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

The extraction of four premolars is a very common practice in orthodontics if your case requires it. The sunken cheeks are not because of the extraction of teeth and the gaps. Maybe you have lost some weight, as you might not be eating enough nutritious food due to braces.

Also, it takes some three to six months on average, in a typical case (varies more depending on the case), to start with tightening, and that starts to close spaces. Complete closure takes an average of eight to 10 months or more. So, do not worry about this right now and speak openly with your orthodontist.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.