Hollow Temples, Eyes and Cheek Bones That Stick out After Wearing Herbst Appliance-why?

Whether it is the Herbst appliance or the conventional brackets and wires, something associated with your orthodontics has caused a facial change that you notice and perceive as negative. Too often orthodontic treatment is performed without a frank discussion about the probable changes in facial appearance. Teeth are overlaid with muscles, skin and lips. When you move teeth it stands to reason that the overlaying structures will also change. The change is not usually dramatic enough to notice but my experience has been that the most dramatic changes occur with lips, length and width of face and cheekbone prominence. It sounds like your situation has to do with length of face and cheekbone prominence. The cheekbone prominence is due to the calming affect that properly done orthodontics has on the masseter muscles (primary chewing muscles). When these muscles are allowed to relax because they no longer have to work so hard then the cheek bones become more prominent and your lower face will appear thinner. If I'm not mistaken, women apply make-up in an attempt at duplicating this same effect.

Hope this helps. If you would like further clarification talk to your orthodontis or don't hesitate to contact me personally.

Good luck!