widen my smile

I went to get braces and waa told that the self ligating braces can widen my smile but traditional braces can not. I feel like I was lied to due to the $500 dollar price difference. she told me if I get traditional braces my smile will not widen. is this true in any way shape or form?

Do you want to answer this question? Login or register now to answer this question.

No profile picture

Answer: Widen my smile

By Sarah h
Dental Professional

Traditional orthodontics can widen the buccal corridor of your smile.  To widen your smile, the posterior (teeth from the canine back) teeth need to be moved outwards, toward the cheek.  This will allow your smile to appear wider, showing more teeth.  This corrects the appearance of anterior (front) teeth only when smiling.  Self ligating braces are only different in how the wires are attached to the brackets.  You already have brackets on in the photos, therefore, make the most of your treatment and be sure you get the results you desire. 

More Questions from Dental Braces

Best age for braces with skeletal underbite

My child (13) went in for a consultation for braces. Found out the underbite is skeletal not dental. Orthodontist won’t do braces until after child is 15 {content removed} 17. Said surgery isn’t off the table. No overcrowding or spaces. My question...

How to remove braces glue from teeth?

how can I get the braces glue off I tried everything?

Almost-brodie bite with SFOT. Looking for provider recommendations

I went to my original orthodontist really wanting a wider smile and a fix to my overbite {content removed} sleep apnea. He proposed removing two premolars in order to prepare for double jaw surgery. I had the two lower premolars removed in addition...

Extraction During Braces for Scissor Bite Molar

Hello, i have a simple question regarding braces, over crowding etc. im a 15 year old girl with braces that have been on for 2 years, i have a scissor bite due to a severe crowding case and i have big teeth, i also have an overbite but its not too...

Michelle rabbit braces

Do I need to wear my retainer for life?

I have had my braces off for 10 years and have been pretty responsible about wearing my retainer. I am tired of it and want to put this part of life behind me. My teeth seem to be staying put. Can I simply stop using it and check to see if the...

I stained my saphire braces..please help

Hi. I got saphire braces 2 weeks ago without any elastic ligatures. Because I am a smoker, the brackets became a visible yellow which doesn't come out when I brush my teeth. Please help, I chose the saphire because I knew it wouldn't get stained but...

retainer doesn't fit

Retainer doesn't fit one tooth

I have a permanent and an overnight retainer that I wear religiously. However my teeth still shift. From 0 {content removed} 21 I have had severe lung issues that made me swallow and use my mouth weirdly just so I could breathe. I can not unlearn...

Orthodontic Abroad

Greetings, I hope you are doing well, I am Yosra Gholami, a Ph.D. student at the University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine. Likewise, I got dental braces in Iran on April 17, 2023, and the wires have been changed three times so far. My question...

My right side molars on top and bottom are lower than the left side. Is this fixable?

My right side molars on both top and bottom are lower than the left side which or placed correctly. I’ve been in braces for over two years now and have not seen any correction in this, despite it being my main concern. My right side profile looks...

Implant bleeding during orthodontic treatment

Hello, I am an adult who had braces as a teen and an implant placed prior to that. The implant is the maxillary right lateral incisor on the top. Now at 40yo I have braces again on my bottom teeth as they have lost their alignment. The braces on...