Will a DNA Appliance help with my protruding upper lip? (Photo)

Question

I’m 24 I did suck my thumb as a child and I’ve always had “buck teeth” a major upper overbite which cause my top lip to stick out more . I now have braces for a little under a year and my teeth are getting straighter ,not completely straight yet but getting there but my lip still pokes out the same .. how can I go about fixing this ?

Ira Shapira, DDS · Answer

Typically the issue is an underdeveloped maxilla and a "V" shape to the arch.  Expansion turns the "V" shaped maxilla into a wide "U" shaped maxilla.

It also increases room for the tongue and enlarges the airway which is good for health reasons.

The worst approach in my opinion is to do extractions and the alternative is to expand the maxilla.

The best non-surgical approach I have found is the DNA Appliance.

It is also possible to utilize SARPE or MARPE procedures.

Brad Lockhart, DDS · Answer

Your upper lip is NOT the problem. Your retruded lower jaw is the problem (a common problem in thumb suckers). This can only be resolved with either surgery or an mRNA appliance. The mRNA is a DNA appliance that fits in the upper jaw combined with a lower DNA appliance that fits in the lower jaw. The two appliances work in tandem to hold your lower jaw forward. If you hold the lower jaw forward for 9-12 months it will stay forward. You might also talk with your orthodontist about using a Herbst appliance which is an appliance that does the same thing as the mRNA but can be used with braces in place, the mRNA appliance does not work with braces on.

Good luck!

Good luck!

Will a DNA Appliance help with my protruding upper lip? (Photo)

Answers (2)