Face transformation with braces and growth glow.

Unlock Your Smile's Potential: The Growth Hormone and Braces Connection

Kai Mendoza in Health & Wellness June 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how growth hormone therapy combined with fixed functional appliances can transform smiles and jawlines, offering new hope for Class II malocclusion patients."

For individuals with a Class II malocclusion characterized by a receding jaw, the desire for improvement often centers on enhancing jaw growth to achieve facial harmony. While traditional approaches have shown limited success in stimulating significant skeletal changes, a compelling case study illuminates a promising new avenue: combining growth hormone (GH) therapy with fixed functional appliances.

Human growth hormone, naturally produced by the pituitary gland, plays a crucial role in skeletal development. While GH deficiency can hinder craniofacial growth, the potential benefits of GH therapy extend beyond addressing deficiencies. Research suggests that GH can stimulate growth in areas crucial for jaw development, offering a unique opportunity to reshape the jawline.

This article delves into a fascinating study that explores the combined effects of GH therapy and fixed functional appliances, offering insights into how this integrated approach can unlock significant improvements in jaw growth and overall facial aesthetics.

A New Approach to Jaw Correction

Face transformation with braces and growth glow.

The study focuses on a 13-year-old patient with Class II malocclusion, a condition marked by a receding lower jaw. What sets this case apart is the integration of fixed functional appliances—braces designed to guide jaw growth—with GH therapy. This combination aims to harness the growth-stimulating potential of GH while strategically directing that growth with the appliance.

Traditional treatments often yield limited long-term skeletal changes. The key question is whether GH therapy can amplify the effects of these appliances, leading to more significant and lasting improvements. The study meticulously tracked the patient's progress, documenting changes in jaw size, tooth alignment, and overall facial profile.

The combination of fixed functional appliances and GH therapy is groundbreaking.
The main goal is to harness the growth-stimulating potential of GH while strategically directing that growth with the appliance.
It addresses major concerns that are clinically insignificant.

The results revealed a remarkable transformation. The patient experienced significant mandibular growth, a key objective in correcting Class II malocclusion. Cephalometric measurements, which analyze skull and facial bone relationships, confirmed the extent of this growth. The patient's chin moved forward, improving facial harmony and reducing the appearance of a receding jaw. What's more, these positive changes remained stable over a retention period of nearly three years.

A Promising Path Forward

This case study offers a compelling glimpse into the potential of combining GH therapy with fixed functional appliances to address Class II malocclusion. While more extensive research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects and optimal protocols, the results suggest a promising path forward for individuals seeking to enhance jaw growth and achieve lasting smile transformations. For those considering orthodontic treatment, discussing the potential benefits of GH therapy with their orthodontist and endocrinologist may open doors to new possibilities.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1016/j.ajodo.2016.08.030, Alternate LINK

Title: Fixed-Functional Appliance Treatment Combined With Growth Hormone Therapy

Subject: Orthodontics

Journal: American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Authors: Min-Ho Jung

Published: 2017-09-01

Everything You Need To Know

What exactly is Class II malocclusion, and how does growth hormone therapy address it?

Class II malocclusion is a specific type of misalignment where the lower jaw is set back further than the upper jaw, often referred to as a receding jaw. This condition can affect both the appearance of the face and the way the teeth meet when biting. The approach using growth hormone aims to stimulate jaw growth to correct this.

What specific improvements were observed in the case study using growth hormone therapy and fixed functional appliances?

The study revealed that combining growth hormone therapy with fixed functional appliances led to significant mandibular growth, meaning the lower jaw grew forward. This improvement was confirmed through cephalometric measurements, which analyze skull and facial bone relationships, and the positive changes remained stable over a retention period of nearly three years.

What are growth hormone and fixed functional appliances, and how do they work together to correct a receding jaw?

Growth hormone (GH) is a hormone naturally produced by the pituitary gland that is crucial for skeletal development. In the context of correcting a receding jaw, GH therapy aims to stimulate growth specifically in areas crucial for jaw development. Fixed functional appliances, often braces, are designed to guide jaw growth in a strategic direction. Combining these aims to amplify the effects of the appliances, leading to more significant and lasting improvements.

Besides growth hormone, what is the role of fixed functional appliances in correcting jaw alignment issues?

Fixed functional appliances, such as braces, play a crucial role in guiding jaw growth in a strategic direction. They work in tandem with growth hormone therapy to maximize the potential for reshaping the jawline and correcting Class II malocclusion. The appliance directs the stimulated growth to achieve the desired skeletal changes.

Is growth hormone therapy combined with dental appliances a fully established treatment, and what are the potential limitations or risks to consider?

While promising, the combined approach of growth hormone therapy and fixed functional appliances is still under investigation. More extensive research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects, optimal treatment protocols, and potential risks. It's also important to consider that growth hormone therapy may have other systemic effects that need careful monitoring by an endocrinologist.