What are you seeing at the sides of your smile?
Look at a relaxed smile and then a broad smile. You may see a different amount of tooth on each side, even though your teeth have not moved. Lip movement, viewing angle and light all affect the spaces you notice.
Dentists call the shadowed areas between the upper back teeth and the corners of the mouth buccal corridors. Their presence is not, by itself, a dental problem. A photograph can help explain your concern, but it cannot establish that your jaw is too narrow or that you need treatment.
Why a fuller smile is not one treatment
“Smile widening” can mean changing the position of teeth, adding to their shape or treating a more complex jaw relationship. These changes are different in both scope and commitment. A useful assessment identifies which feature is contributing to the appearance before discussing a procedure.
For example, a tooth that leans inwards may call for a different conversation from a tooth that is small in proportion to its neighbours. Lip shape may also limit how much of the teeth will show after dental treatment.
Ask your dentist to show you which feature they propose to change, and how that change relates to the concern you have described.
What aligners can and cannot do
Clear aligners move teeth in planned stages. For suitable patients, changes to tooth position may make the visible smile look broader. The British Orthodontic Society notes that aligners can be used for some cases involving mild to moderate dental-arch expansion.
That is different from assuming an adult jaw can simply be widened with aligners. Underlying jaw-size or jaw-position problems may require other techniques and specialist advice. Your assessment should cover the roots, supporting tissues and the way the upper and lower teeth meet.
Daily wear and review appointments are part of the commitment. Retainers are needed afterwards to help maintain the position of the teeth. Ask about their care and cost when discussing your plan.
Where bonding and veneers fit
Changing selected tooth shapes may improve the visible balance of a smile. Composite bonding adds tooth-coloured material; porcelain veneers cover the front surface of teeth. Neither treatment widens the jaw, and adding material cannot solve every problem with tooth position.
There are trade-offs. Bonding can stain or chip and needs maintenance. Veneers may involve removing enamel, which cannot grow back. Replacement treatment may be needed later. Ask whether the same aim could be achieved with less intervention, and how the dentist will keep the bite and cleaning spaces healthy.
Sometimes alignment is considered first, with any cosmetic work reviewed afterwards. This avoids committing to a particular number of veneers or bonded teeth before the overall plan is understood.
How to assess before-and-after photographs
Photographs are most useful when they show comparable angles, lighting and smile positions. A wider grin or brighter light can change the impression of a buccal corridor without demonstrating the effect of treatment.
Ask what treatment was carried out, whether other procedures were involved and how the starting point compares with yours. Another patient’s result is not a prediction of your own. The same applies to a digital preview: it helps discussion, but biology and treatment response still matter.
Planning treatment around life in London
If you work in central London, travel frequently or visit from outside the city, ask about the likely review schedule before starting. Convenience depends on the whole course of care, including follow-up and maintenance, rather than the first appointment alone.
Harley Street Dentists is at 66 Harley Street, London W1G 7HD. Bring any previous treatment information you have and explain the changes you hope to make. The team can discuss the appropriate appointment and practical arrangements.
Questions about costs and long-term care
A price for “buccal corridor correction” is only useful when it describes an actual treatment plan. Ask which teeth are involved, which records are needed and what follow-up or replacement costs you should expect.
- What is included in the written estimate, and what might be additional?
- How will we judge whether the planned change has been achieved?
- What are the risks for my teeth and gums?
- Will I need retainers, repairs or replacements over time?
- What happens if I choose no treatment?
You can compare HSD’s approved starting fees and assessment route on the buccal corridor correction treatment page. A new patient examination is £135; a cosmetic consultation is complimentary with an exam.
Is buccal fat removal related?
No. Buccal fat removal involves cheek fat and facial surgery. Buccal corridors concern the spaces visible alongside the teeth. Similar wording can make the two seem connected, so be clear about which feature you want to discuss.
Discussing your own smile
If the spaces at the sides of your smile concern you, an in-person assessment can help you understand the options. Speak with Harley Street Dentists about an assessment. The discussion can include keeping your smile as it is.
Further reading
For general information on treatment suitability and retention, see the British Orthodontic Society’s clear aligner guidance and its information about retainers. This article provides general information and does not replace an examination.