Short face: when the face needs height
The opposite pattern to the long face. And another way to find balance.
What a short face is like
The short face is the opposite pattern to the long face: the face lacked vertical growth, and its lower part has less height than its harmony needs. The face looks squarer or rounder, with marked jaw angles and very strong chewing muscles. Inside, there's often a deep bite: the upper teeth cover much of the lower ones.
It can come with a Class II face, with the chin set back, or with a Class III face, where the lower jaw rotates forward when closing. The upper jaw, the shape of the lower jaw, the position of the chin and the strength of the muscles all influence each other.
What you notice and what you feel
Aesthetic: a square or round face, a marked chin, a deep fold under the lip, lips that look thin or tucked in and little tooth display when smiling. Sometimes the face looks more childlike than expected.
Functional: the chewing muscles are very strong and, for that reason, marked bruxism is common: clenching or grinding the teeth hard, by day or at night. Sleep apnea or reflux sometimes appear too.
Oral: with a deep bite, the lower teeth can touch the palate or the upper gums. The load concentrates on a few points, the teeth wear down or fracture, and the joint works harder than it should (TMD).
Postural: the jaw tends to stay closed and clenched. Tension builds up in the temples, in the facial muscles and, sometimes, in the neck, and it's felt at the end of the day or on waking.
How it's treated
There's no single formula. Each case is decided individually, based on what your diagnosis shows, what you prefer and what the team sees for your situation. Most often, the foundation is orthodontics and surgery working together: your teeth, and how they fit, are the key that makes everything come together and stay in place, and surgery brings the structure into an optimal, harmonious position. In a short face, the goal is to give height back to the lower part of the face: depending on the case, the upper jaw may come down, the lower jaw rotate and the chin gain height with a genioplasty, making sure the jaw and the joint work in balance. Depending on the case, other specialties or facial procedures are added. Everything is planned beforehand on a digital twin of your face; the full path is in The process.
If your smile shows little of your teeth, you clench a lot or your bite feels very closed, we'll look at what's behind it at your evaluation.
Frequently asked questions
What is a short face?
It's a pattern in which the face lacked vertical growth: its lower part has less height than its harmony needs. That's why it looks more square or rounded and, sometimes, more childlike. It often comes with a deep bite, very strong muscles and little of the teeth showing when you smile.
What is a deep bite?
It's when, as you close, the upper teeth cover much of the lower teeth. Sometimes the lower teeth even touch the palate. It can occur on its own or as part of a short-face pattern; studying your case shows which it is.
Is bruxism related to a short face?
It can be. With a short face, the chewing muscles are usually very strong and, for the same reason, bruxism can be marked. That's why it's worth studying where it comes from and not just protecting the teeth: the evaluation looks at the bite, the muscles and the joints together.
Can it affect the jaw joint?
A very closed bite and very strong muscles can increase the load on the joint. That's why the plan takes the joint into account from the start: so it's well prepared for surgery, ends up in an optimal position and keeps working well over time.
Is it related to sleep apnea or reflux?
Sometimes. Some people with a short face have sleep apnea or reflux, which is why the evaluation also asks how you sleep and how you feel during the day. Sleep apnea is confirmed with a sleep study (polysomnography) and other tests, and we work as a team when the case calls for it.
Is it the same as Class II?
They can go together, but they're not the same. Class II describes how the upper and lower jaws relate from front to back; a short face describes the height of the face. Many people have elements of both, and the plan takes both into account at once.
Can it be corrected with orthodontics alone?
In some cases, orthodontics can improve a deep bite and is a valid alternative. When the height of the face is part of the picture, combining it with surgery makes it possible to work on that dimension too. We go over each option with you, with its advantages and its limits.
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