Posted by: Jimbo

So something that really bothers me about my skull is the fact that my cheekbones stick out further than my temples and forehead.  I think this is because I lack the forward cheekbones.  

What builds up the temples? When I clench I feel the temple muscles flex so would I just have to build those muscles up?  My skull looks weird as it’s wide in the back and as it comes up it gets more narrow.  

 

Im in braces right now for an underbite and I also have a palate expander in.  It kind of weird to clench right now cause my upper jaw is expanded way more than my bottom jaw right.  I guess the lower jaw doesn’t follow when it’s under braces control.

 

what can I do when I get these off to building up my temple and forehead area?  Is that connected to the mandible or the maxilla?

Hard to tell what you mean without pictures. I used to think my upper jaw was expanded more than my bottom one. Lots of people who get braces think that. What happens most likely (I am guessing) is the downward rotation of your maxilla creates the illusion it is too far out. I used to think the same until I realized practically everyone's maxilla was much closer to their nose than mine.

Anyway, I can't exactly picture what you mean. Pics?

Jimbo. I have actually seen my forehead change for the better as I have mewed/powermewed for 8 months. I have seen major changes for my maxilla and for my entire face, including my upper skull/forehead.

My front part of my skull looked more collapsed before, today it has a more round nice shape to it. My skin that goes over my forehead is also tighter today than before.

I have not focused that much on my masseter/temporal muscles. The minor volume changes I have seen there have not changed anything when it comes to my skull/forehead. I am talking about changes in my bone structure.

Any tips on how to mew properly?  What is your routine?

Well the whole reason for these braces is to correct the underbite and bring everything back out.  Don’t have any pics right now but I definitely have an intermolar increase but my palate is way wider in the back than in the front.  Back molars are 53 mm intermolar width distal and my first molars are 37/38 intermolar width.  I think that’s why my upper jaw still seems recessed.  The anterior needs to be expanded more.  

Anyways I would hope the braces arent bringing the maxilla back this time.  I made it clear to the ortho about what I wanted and he assured me what would happen.

Long as you are under the proper care hopefully the braces won't bring your maxilla further back. Braces brought my maxilla back through the use of elastics. This made my zygos less pronounced and my glasses sit closer to my eyes so my eyelashes rubbed against the lens. I too had an underbite like you. But my orthodontist was old school and knew little about maxillary placement. He narrowed my two arches and while it made my profile more pleasing it didn't fix the underlying issue.

In a few weeks I will be receiving my retainer from my treatment and I want to see that it doesn't fit since the ortho really narrowed my upper arch but I know it has expanded through mewing.

Also your skull shape and forehead may just be part of your personal phenotype . I used to think my sloping forehead was a deformity. Turns out it's just a dimorphic trait. Used to think my skulskulape was odd (it's entirely normal). Again, physical phenotype. Some things we deem unattractive about ourselves are just part of what make us unique.  

Yeah my ortho is under the new school way of no extracting except for extreme cases.

i think my face type is brachyfacial.  Even looking at my younger pics I have a wider skull.  I had top premolars taken out when I was young and it caved in my upper face.  

Posted by: Jimbo

Any tips on how to mew properly?  What is your routine?

I regular mew combined with sessions of pushing upwards with a constant force (sometimes I do it for maybe as long as half the day combined). I do not recommend it though since I do not know whether it is ideal and/or safe. It has certainly caused plenty of change in me. I was coming from a very collapsed state though. Perhaps this has not been your case since your molar width is 53 mm. I have seen major change in me in these 8 months and my molar width right now is not more than about 35-36 mm (intermolar width about 34,5 mm).

Are you of East Asian descent? I find that because Europeans have more pronounced brow ridges that the forehead *appears* to be ahead of the cheekbones but it isn't the forehead itself but the brow ridge. 

Now in theory since the maxilla "swings" upwards, it may bring your upper midface "in" and make it look like your cheeks come behind your forehead. But this honestly is a theory and it may not happen. Without pics it is hard to tell your starting point and whether this Is a question of bone placement or personal phenotype that you can't affect