Initial situation
- Dental crowding
- Tooth misalignment
- Broken symmetry of the dentition
- Excessive gingival display when smiling
- Cheek corridors (dark buccal spaces at the corners of the mouth)
The decision
The case is shown here as a before/after outcome. The treatment plan followed standard staged assessment of the crowding, misalignment, and asymmetry described in the initial presentation.
Correcting arch width and alignment can reduce cheek corridor darkness as part of a broader esthetic outcome.
The result
The patient finished treatment with a wide, open, and symmetrical smile.
Cheek corridor appearance is often linked to arch width and alignment, and can improve as part of comprehensive crowding correction.
About skeletal expansion & MARPE
Cheek corridors, the dark buccal spaces visible at the corners of the mouth when smiling, are frequently tied to arch width and posterior tooth position. When evaluating crowding cases with this presentation, clinicians typically assess transverse dimension alongside alignment, since widening the arch can reduce corridor darkness as a byproduct of treatment rather than requiring a separate intervention.
Questions clinicians ask
What causes dark cheek corridors when smiling?
Cheek corridors typically relate to a narrow arch or posterior tooth position that leaves buccal space visible during a smile.
Can orthodontic treatment improve cheek corridor appearance?
Yes, widening the arch and correcting alignment can reduce buccal corridor darkness as part of overall smile esthetics, though it is generally a secondary outcome of treatment rather than the primary goal.
Is cheek corridor correction part of standard crowding treatment planning?
It is often considered alongside arch width and alignment goals during diagnostic workup, particularly when esthetic smile width is a stated concern.
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Original case shared by Dr. Mark Radzhabov on Instagram @orthodont_mark · Published for professional education.
