Jaw asymmetry and facial collapse after braces - What should I do?
Hello everyone, I will try my best to explain my situation
I got braces on December 2023 to fix deep bite and was told it would also help with my TMJ issue. About 7 months (July 2024) into the treatment, they gave me elastics to help close the gap where I had a missing molar on my bottom right teeth.
I wore the elastics for around a month and my face had gotten significantly longer and flat and I was looking really bad like, I was malnourished or something. So, I asked them to instead open the gap and put an implant on the missing place.
I got the implant on November 2024 and my face was getting better at that time. But, around January 2025 my face had started to lose volume and when I asked the ortho about it they told me I was just losing weight.
Fast forward to March 2025 I got my braces removed and was given retainers. 10 Days after getting the braces off my face had completely collapsed to the point where I couldn't even recognize myself. It got REALLY BAD (I can provide before and after pics if someone would like).
I was really depressed and hated looking at myself so I went to another orthodontist and they told me that my bite hasn't been corrected properly and that the right side of my teeth don't sit as they should.
Although I feel like my face has overtime regained some of its volume, there's still very visible asymmetry on my face now, particularly-
My lower jaw has shifted to the right side, it looks like my jaw is tilted to the right side, the right side of my face looks shrunken and the TMJ on my right side feels heavy and painful all the time. My lips and mouth look crooked. I am able to move my jaw to the center by putting pressure but it goes back to the original position.
I've never really been a very good looking person but, I also never hated looking in the mirror until now. All this has taken a toll on my mental health and completely destroyed my confidence.
I want to ask, Will my face get back to normal if I stop wearing retainers or should I get another ortho treatment from a different orthodontist? Or if there is another way to fix this issue.
Apologize for the big post and thanks
Posted Nov 28, 2025, 5:47 PM UTC