Some individuals seek tooth extraction to address prominent cheekbones, hoping bone resorption post-extraction might refine facial contours. While removing wisdom teeth may improve a "round face," extracting functional healthy teeth warrants caution—it could impair future eating ability and accelerate aging.
In physiognomy, the saying goes: "Cheekbones protruding behind the ears signify a heartless nature." This describes individuals with large, outwardly flared "cheekbones" (mandibular angles) on both sides.It's said such individuals are "competitive and confrontational, prone to clashing with elders and superiors, and easily turning against peers and friends." For example, in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhuge Liang remarked, "Wei Yan has a rebellious bone at the back of his head; he will surely rebel someday," referring to the sharp angle of the jawbone clearly visible from behind.
The notion that prominent jawbones lead to rebellion is unscientific superstition. However, a wide, flat "pancake face" is undeniably unattractive, prompting many young women to pursue oval or heart-shaped faces. This has led to the idea of facial contouring through tooth extraction, as removing teeth causes alveolar bone resorption, potentially reducing jaw width.Dental professionals caution that cosmetic tooth extraction should be approached with caution: wisdom teeth may be removed if present, but sacrificing functional teeth for beauty risks future difficulties eating and may even worsen appearance.
Facial shape is influenced by childhood habits. For instance, Western infants who sleep on their stomachs are more likely to develop heart-shaped faces. However, consistently sleeping on one side or resting one cheek while sitting can lead to facial asymmetry.The chin-stroking technique recommended by elders, if practiced over years, can also alter facial contours. Beyond the jawline, an attractive face must meet fundamental requirements like the golden ratio between upper and lower facial proportions and bilateral symmetry, alongside multiple aesthetic standards. For instance, the chin protrusion (chin tip), lips, and nose tip determine the beauty of a person's profile: alignment of these three points in a straight line, or a slight inward curve of the upper and lower lips, creates a more pleasing appearance.
The lower third of the face is defined by the lips, teeth, and jawbones. Beyond soft tissue factors like the lips, disharmony between tooth count and bone volume can lead to poor facial aesthetics. For instance, fewer teeth with more bone creates a sparse appearance, while more teeth with less bone results in buck teeth, protruding teeth, or misaligned dentition.Through prolonged evolution, human bone volume has gradually become relatively insufficient, rendering the wisdom teeth—the last teeth at the back of the dental arch—superfluous. Lack of space often causes them to erupt crookedly. They are rarely used for chewing, and their inaccessibility to toothbrushes makes them prone to decay due to inadequate cleaning.
Wisdom teeth also frequently trap debris against the cheek lining and tongue base, causing infections. Aesthetically, they can elongate facial contours. Therefore, individuals with a "round face" where the jawline extends beyond the ears can safely have their wisdom teeth extracted, as the jawbone may naturally reduce in size.Second, consider removing the premolars between the canine teeth and molars. These teeth are small and thin with limited function. If decayed, they can be safely extracted. Orthodontic treatment often targets these premolars, removing one from each quadrant (upper and lower, left and right).
After extraction, the jawbone won't shrink immediately—only surgical bone reduction achieves that.Liu Bing explains that bone resorption and remodeling require at least 3 to 6 months, with noticeable changes occurring one to two years post-extraction. Before age 25, bones undergo continuous remodeling, resulting in softer facial contours—making this an ideal time for cosmetic tooth extraction. After age 25, caution is advised, and for those over 30, the mandible has already stabilized, yielding minimal results.