Understanding Lip Incompetence
Hello, this is Dr. Jamali. I receive many questions about lip incompetence, and I am here today to answer some of the most common ones.
What is lip incompetence?
Lip incompetence is when you cannot close your lips at rest. When you bite down, your lips should come together or be about a millimeter apart. If they don't, that's lip incompetence.
What causes lip incompetence?
Lip incompetence is caused by a small lower jaw, a small chin, or the upper jaw growing down too much.
How is lip incompetence diagnosed?
Lip incompetence is diagnosed by evaluating the profile of the patient, taking X-rays, and observing the patient at rest while biting down.
What are the treatment options for lip incompetence?
The only effective treatment for lip incompetence is chin and jaw surgery. These are the best options for improving lip incompetence.
Can lip incompetence be corrected without surgery?
Lip incompetence generally cannot be corrected without surgery.
Is lip incompetence related to mouth breathing?
Lip incompetence can be related to mouth breathing. When a patient is a mouth breather, the upper jaw grows down too much, bringing the lower jaw down. This creates a space between the upper and lower lips, making it difficult for the patient to close their lips without straining.
What is the difference between lip incompetence and gummy smile?
The difference is that in a gummy smile, the upper jaw has grown down. This can also cause lip incompetence, but lip incompetence can also be caused by a small lower jaw.
At what age should lip incompetence be treated?
Lip incompetence can be treated at the age of 15 or 16.
Can lip incompetence cause speech problems?
Lip incompetence can cause speech problems, but rarely. If the lower jaw is small and there's an overbite, there might be some speech issues.
What exercises can help improve lip incompetence?
There are no exercises that can improve lip incompetence.
Is lip incompetence associated with sleep apnea?
Lip incompetence can be associated with sleep apnea. It indicates that the lower jaw is small, causing the tongue to fall back, which can result in sleep apnea.
How does lip incompetence affect facial development?
Lip incompetence does not affect facial development. It is actually caused by facial development and deformity.
Can orthodontic treatment fix lip incompetence?
Lip incompetence can sometimes be addressed orthodontically by pushing the upper teeth upwards, but typically, surgery is warranted.
What is a mental strain and how is it related to lip incompetence?
When a patient cannot close their lips, they strain the chin muscles to force closure, resulting in wrinkles and dimpling in the chin area. This is called lip straining and mentalis straining.
Are there any non-surgical treatments for lip incompetence?
There are no non-surgical treatments for lip incompetence.
Thank you. This is Dr. Jamali. I hope I have answered some of your questions about lip incompetence. If you have any other questions, we would love to answer them for you. Please give us a call at the office at (332) 244-0554. Our staff would love to talk with you!