From Dental Structure to Facial Harmony: The Power of Profile Balancing
Updated: Sep 27
How Teeth, Lips and Chin Shape the Side Profile
Have you ever noticed how the position of the teeth can influence the appearance of the lips and the overall side profile?
The relationship between the teeth, jaws, lips, nose and chin all contributes to facial proportions. That does not mean there is one “perfect” profile — every face has its own anatomy and character.
But if you would like to subtly change the way your lips or chin appear from the side, dermal filler may sometimes be used to adjust the soft-tissue profile.
What Happens in an Under-bite?
With an under-bite, the lower teeth and/or jaw sit further forward in relation to the upper jaw.
This can sometimes make the lower lip appear more prominent while the upper lip appears relatively less projected.
It is important to be clear that dermal filler does not correct an under-bite. An under-bite is a dental or skeletal relationship, and depending on the individual, orthodontic or maxillofacial assessment may be more appropriate if correction of the bite itself is desired.
However, for someone who does not wish to change the underlying bite — or who simply wants a subtle cosmetic adjustment — carefully placed filler may sometimes be used to alter the appearance of the lips and create a softer transition through the profile.
In the case shown, the patient chose to add a small amount of projection to the upper lip to create a relationship between the upper and lower lips that she preferred, while keeping the result natural.
How Do We Assess the Side Profile?
During a profile assessment, we may use established aesthetic reference lines as guides, alongside a full assessment of the individual face.
They are not rules, and the aim is never to make every patient fit the same measurements.
Ricketts’ E-LineThis is an imaginary line extending from the tip of the nose to the most prominent point of the soft-tissue chin.
It can help us assess the relationship of the lips to the nose and chin when viewing the face from the side.
However, the position of the lips relative to this line varies naturally between individuals and populations, so it should never be treated as a universal definition of attractiveness.
Burstone’s LineThis reference line runs from the base of the nose to the soft-tissue chin and can also be used to evaluate lip projection in relation to the rest of the profile.
Again, it is simply one assessment tool.
It Is About Your Face, Not a Formula
Reference lines can help us understand proportions, but they should never dictate what someone’s face should look like.
When dermal filler is appropriate, small adjustments to the lips or chin can sometimes alter the balance of the side profile.
But the goal is not to manufacture a mathematically “perfect” face.
For us, it is about understanding your anatomy, listening to what you would like to change — if anything — and preserving the features that make your face recognisably yours.
You may choose to enhance your profile. You may prefer your natural proportions exactly as they are. Both choices are completely valid.
Would You Like a Profile Assessment?
If you are curious about your own facial proportions, you can send us a clear side-profile photograph for a preliminary aesthetic assessment at:
A photograph can help us discuss general proportions, but it does not replace an in-person consultation or assessment of your anatomy.
No pressure to change — just an opportunity to understand your features and explore what may be possible if you choose to.
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