When can a protruding mouth be corrected without extraction?
I often hear the question, “If I want to bring a protruding mouth back, extraction is a must, right?” I don't start from that assumption. The path differs depending on the room inside the jawbone, the degree of protrusion, the angle of the front teeth, and the thickness of the lips.
If the protrusion is mild and there is room to push back, I place a small screw (a mini-screw, or TAD) in the jawbone to create an anchor point and move the whole row of teeth back. That said, having a screw does not mean every mouth can be brought back without extraction. There is a limit to how much space can be opened. I explain why we use screws in Why mini-screws are used in orthodontics.
| Front teeth and bone | When we extract | When we don't |
|---|---|---|
| Only the angle sticks out a little | Not the default | Moving teeth back first |
| Space is severely lacking | We use the premolar space | We don't force the arch wider |
| Already tilted forward | Space is needed to move them back | We don't push them further forward |
When is extraction needed to fix a protruding mouth?
If the width of the teeth is greater than the space in the jaw, the front teeth need to go back a long way, and that space can't be opened any other way, I include extraction in the plan. Avoiding extraction by force in these cases makes the front teeth look even more protruding, or they can't reach the position you want. If something can't be done, I tell you so up front.
With skeletal protrusion, where the upper and lower jawbones themselves stick forward, there is a limit to how far orthodontics alone can bring things back. In this case I explain separately what change orthodontics can achieve and what options there are if you want more than that. Covering a protruding mouth with porcelain veneers is discussed in Can a protruding mouth be fixed with porcelain veneers?
How much does the mouth go back after orthodontics for a protruding mouth?
The lips do not follow by the same amount the teeth move back. Their response varies with lip thickness and tension and with the position of the nose and chin, so I don't promise a particular mouth shape based only on how far the teeth move. If too much of the extraction space is used for the front teeth, the lips can look sunken, but that is a problem of planning, not of extraction itself. More details are in Changes to the mouth after orthodontics with extraction.
How long does orthodontics for a protruding mouth take, and what are the side effects?
Moving the whole row of teeth usually takes 1 year 6 months to 2 years 6 months, and longer if spaces are closed and the bite is fine-tuned. During treatment we also watch for the following.
- A few days of soreness after each appliance adjustment
- Tooth decay and gum inflammation because brushing around the appliance is difficult
- Root resorption: a change in which the root tips become shorter. Minor changes are common but mostly do not lead to functional problems, and we check with X-rays before and during treatment.
- Relapse: prevented with a retainer after treatment ends.
- Gum recession: occurs when teeth are forced back toward thin bone, and the gums do not grow back.
How we do it at Wonjin Dental
At the consultation, rather than whether to extract, I first decide where the space will come from and where the front teeth will be placed. I break down the angles and bone using facial and dental photos and X-rays, and explain the extraction and non-extraction options side by side. Some mouths can be treated with clear aligners, but where the movement is large and predictability drops, I add auxiliary appliances or recommend a different appliance.
Orthodontic diagnosis is ₩100,000, full orthodontics (Clippy C) is ₩5,000,000, clear aligners (Seraphin) are ₩2,500,000, and mini-screws are ₩100,000 each (as of September 2026). Other items such as retainers are listed in All fees.
Frequently asked questions
Do mini-screws hurt?
They are placed under local anesthesia, so there is not much pain during placement. It may feel achy for a day or two, and they are removed when treatment is finished.
When does the change in the mouth start to show?
It shows gradually during the stage where the front teeth are moved back after the teeth have been aligned. Many people usually notice a change in their profile after the middle of treatment.
Can some protrusion remain after orthodontics?
If the bone itself protrudes or the lips are thick, some sense of protrusion can remain even after the teeth are in place. That is why I first explain what range orthodontics can achieve before starting.
How long do I wear a retainer after orthodontics for a protruding mouth?
The more the front teeth have moved, the stronger their pull to go back, so the retainer is used for a long time. Many people wear it most of the day at first, then cut down to nights only, and use it for several years or more.
