Home › Orthodontics › Conditions We Treat › Protruding Mouth
Conditions · Teens & adults
Protruding Mouth (Bimaxillary Protrusion): Treatment Options
A protruding mouth means the upper and lower front teeth both sit forward, pushing the lips forward so they can look full or strain to close. Orthodontics can often bring the teeth and lips back. At Yonsei Baro near Isu Station, Dr. Sally Chaekyung Lee weighs extraction and non-extraction options for each face.
Protruding mouth at a glance
| Question | In brief |
|---|---|
| What it is | Bimaxillary (dentoalveolar) protrusion: upper and lower front teeth both positioned or tipped forward, with full, forward lips |
| Common causes | Inherited tooth and jaw position, crowding, tongue and lip posture; sometimes a forward jaw position |
| Usually noticed | Teens and adults, often as lips that feel full, don’t close comfortably, or look prominent in profile photos |
| How it’s assessed | Profile and lip analysis, RAY Face scan, X-rays or 3D CT of the bone around the front-tooth roots, digital scan, space analysis |
| Treatment options | Braces or aligners with premolar extractions, or distalization supported by temporary anchorage screws (TSADs); jaw surgery for some skeletal cases |
| Typical approach: children | Usually monitored; crowding and habits addressed; full treatment once the adult teeth are in |
| Typical approach: adults | Plan based on lip strain, profile, bone thickness and goals; extraction vs non-extraction decided case by case |
What is a protruding mouth?
A protruding mouth, called “dolchul-ip” (돌출입) in Korean, is a common concern in Korea. Orthodontists call it bimaxillary protrusion when both sets of front teeth sit forward. The lips rest on the teeth, so forward teeth tend to bring the lips forward too. Typical signs include:
- Lips that look full or pushed forward in profile
- Strain or a dimpled chin when closing the lips over the teeth
- Lips that stay slightly apart at rest
This is different from protruding front teeth , where mainly the upper teeth stick out ahead of the lower ones. Ethnic background and personal preference matter here: fuller lips are not a problem in themselves, and treatment aims for balance with your own nose, chin and face, not a single ideal.
Can a protruding mouth be fixed without extractions?
Sometimes. To bring the front teeth back, they need space to move into. That space can come from:
- Extractions: traditionally, removing one premolar on each side, upper and lower, creates the most space for retraction
- Distalization: moving whole rows of teeth backwards, supported by temporary skeletal anchorage devices (TSADs, also called mini-screws)
- Slight enamel reshaping between teeth, which adds a small amount of space
Whether distalization can provide enough space depends on how much room there is behind the back teeth, the position of any wisdom teeth, and the thickness of the surrounding bone. Dr. Lee is a co-author of a Seminars in Orthodontics paper on new TSAD-based systems for distalization, so she considers this option carefully, but results depend on diagnosis and it is not suitable for everyone.
Does my teen need treatment now?
Usually there is no rush. In children, a forward tooth position may be accompanied by crowding or habits that are worth addressing, but full treatment of a protruding mouth normally starts once the adult teeth are in. It is a good idea to have a check when the canines and premolars arrive; see orthodontics for teenagers .
Braces or aligners for a protruding mouth?
Both can be used. Retracting the front teeth a long way, especially after extractions, needs careful control of tooth angle and roots, which fixed braces provide reliably. Invisalign and other aligners can treat many cases too, often with anchorage screws or elastics. Dr. Lee will explain the trade-offs for your plan.
How Dr. Lee assesses a protruding mouth
Dr. Lee looks at the teeth and the face together. A RAY Face scan and profile photos show the lips, nose and chin; a RAY Quantum 5D CT scan shows how much bone surrounds the front-tooth roots, which limits how far they can move back safely; and a digital scan measures the available space. When the protrusion comes mainly from the jaws, she will explain what orthodontics alone can and can’t change, and whether a surgical opinion is worth considering.
Published cases, shared with consent, are on our before-and-after page . Results vary from person to person.
Protruding mouth FAQs
Will orthodontic treatment make my lips less full?
Bringing the front teeth back usually lets the lips move back too, but not by the same amount. Lip thickness, muscle tone and age all affect how much the profile changes. Dr. Lee uses face scans and photos to explain what change is realistic for you before treatment starts.
Which teeth are usually removed to correct a protruding mouth?
When extractions are needed, they are most often premolars, the teeth between the canines and the molars, usually one on each side of the upper and lower jaws. Sometimes only upper teeth are removed. The choice depends on your bite, crowding and profile, and Dr. Lee explains it before you decide.
What are mini-screws, and are they safe?
Mini-screws, or temporary anchorage devices, are small titanium screws placed in the bone under local anaesthetic to give teeth something stable to move against. They are removed when no longer needed. Possible problems include loosening, gum irritation and, rarely, contact with a tooth root. Dr. Lee explains the risks first.
Can pulling the front teeth back too far flatten the face?
It can, which is why planning starts with the face rather than the teeth. Over-retraction may make the lips look thin or the face look older. Dr. Lee considers your nose, chin, lip thickness and goals when deciding how far to move the teeth, and that also guides the extraction decision.
Does a protruding mouth always mean I need jaw surgery?
No. Most protruding mouths come from the position of the teeth and are treated with orthodontics alone. Surgery is discussed only when the jaws themselves are significantly forward and orthodontics alone would not give a balanced or stable result. If that applies, Dr. Lee will explain why.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Sally Chaekyung Lee, DDS, PhD
Board-certified orthodontist (Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare) · Adjunct Professor of Orthodontics, Yonsei University · Last updated October 2026
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Treatment results and duration vary from person to person. Orthodontic treatment can cause temporary discomfort and, in some cases, root shortening, gum recession or tooth decay if oral hygiene is poor; teeth can relapse if retainers are not worn as instructed.
Wondering whether extractions are needed?
Book an examination and Dr. Lee will assess your profile, bone and space, then explain your options in English. Isu Station Exit 2 · Open until 9 PM Mon & Thu · Saturdays 9 AM–2 PM.