Can protruding teeth be corrected with cosmetic surgery?
Oct 29, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Liu Chao
Introduction
In general, protruding teeth can be improved in appearance through professional medical treatments, which fall under the category of oral and maxillofacial aesthetics. Regardless of the type of protruding teeth, a professional evaluation is required before any treatment. Doctors will assess the cause and severity of the condition through oral examinations, lateral cephalometric radiographs, and panoramic dental X-rays, then develop a personalized treatment plan accordingly.
Generally, protruding teeth (buck teeth) can be improved in appearance through professional medical treatments, which fall under the category of oral and maxillofacial aesthetics. The specific analysis is as follows:
Protruding teeth are mainly classified into two types: dental and skeletal. Dental protrusion is typically caused by misaligned tooth positioning or excessive forward tilting of the front teeth. It usually does not involve bone modification and can be corrected effectively with orthodontic treatment. Common orthodontic methods include traditional metal braces and invisible aligners. These work by gradually moving the teeth to retract the protruding ones into a normal position and adjusting the bite relationship, thereby improving the appearance of protruding teeth. This process primarily focuses on correcting tooth alignment.
Skeletal protrusion, on the other hand, involves abnormalities in jawbone development, such as excessive forward projection of the upper jaw, underdevelopment of the lower jaw, or a combination of both. Orthodontics alone is often insufficient for complete correction in these cases. Instead, combined orthodontic and orthognathic surgical treatment is typically required. This involves first using orthodontics to align the teeth and prepare the bite, followed by orthognathic surgery to reposition the jawbones. This approach fundamentally corrects jaw protrusion, simultaneously restoring both facial contours and proper tooth alignment, representing a more complex form of maxillofacial aesthetic treatment.
Prior to treatment for any type of protruding teeth, a thorough professional evaluation is essential. Dentists assess the cause and severity of the condition through clinical oral examinations, lateral cephalometric X-rays, and panoramic radiographs, then develop an individualized treatment plan. It is important to note that such treatments should be performed at reputable dental medical facilities by qualified professionals to avoid complications such as tooth damage or malocclusion resulting from improper procedures.
