At first, ever since I was little, my gums showed a lot when I smiled, so I considered orthognathic surgery. (It wasn’t a protruding jaw; it was more like a gummy smile with a lot of gum exposure and protruding mouth.) The area around my mouth always felt awkward, and I used to cover my mouth when I smiled.
So I got examined at a famous orthognathic plastic surgery clinic, ㅍㅇㅅㄹㅇ, but they said I had to get a 3D scan or something before I could consult with the director. I paid about 200,000 won for the exam and had the consultation, and they recommended orthognathic surgery + cheekbone surgery + chin tip + facial liposuction, like that... hmm. I was scared, and the cost was a lot too, so I gave up and got lingual braces instead.
They said they would place screws in the roof of my mouth and pull upward to correct it. This place was also more expensive than other dental clinics, but I went ahead with the orthodontic treatment. Having screws placed in the roof of my mouth and going through it for a whole year was really hard ㅠㅠ Inflammation happens easily, and you have to brush your gums really well, and above all, food gets stuck in the rubber bands a lot ㅠㅠ After about 1 year and 2 months, when I switched to regular braces, it became bearable. Right now I’m in the retainer phase, and after about a year I was told to come in for a checkup!
It’s expensive, but if you’re like me and not actually underbite but your gums look very prominent as if they’ve dropped down a bit, orthodontics can solve it too!
Even if it’s not Kilbon orthodontics, these days orthodontics has advanced a lot, and there are many treatments that raise the gums, apparently! My gums have come up a lot, and they still show a little when I smile, but because it’s not protruding mouth it looks less noticeable, and they say if you raise the gums too much, the upper lip can sag when you get older, so it’s better to let a little show! I don’t regret orthodontic treatment!!! Highly recommend braces!
The director was a bit busy, so sometimes another doctor would see me! Still, I’m satisfied!