Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesComplicationsTreatments
Table of ContentsView All
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Table of Contents
Causes
Complications
Treatments
A receding chin, also known as a weak chin, refers to a medical condition calledmandibular retrognathia(or simply retrognathia). It occurs when the lower jaw (mandible) is set back from the upper jaw (maxilla). Instead of lying square or jutting forward, the chin slopes back toward the neck, making the jaw seem recessed when viewed in profile.
Retrognathia can cause eating pain and contribute to problems likesleep apnea.A receding chin may not require treatment, but those who want or need it may correct the misalignment with orthodontic devices or surgery.
This article describes the causes and complications of a receding chin and the various treatments used to fix it
Ildar Abulkhanov / Getty Images
Retrognathia vs. RetrogeniaRetrognathia and retrogenia are sometimes used interchangeably, but retrognathia occurs when the lower jaw is set back while retrogenia refers to having a proportionally small chin.Retrognathia and retrogenia can occur together or on their own.
Retrognathia vs. Retrogenia
Retrognathia and retrogenia are sometimes used interchangeably, but retrognathia occurs when the lower jaw is set back while retrogenia refers to having a proportionally small chin.Retrognathia and retrogenia can occur together or on their own.
What Causes a Recessed Chin?
Some people are born with retrognathia, referred to ascongenitalretrognathia, while others acquire it later in life. The condition may be symmetrical (without the disruption of the horizontal position) or asymmetrical (leading to a “crooked jaw”).
Congenital retrognathia may be a feature passed from generation to generation with no ill consequence or it may occur spontaneously before birth due to a minor genetic alteration.
Acquired causes of a receding or weak jaw include:
Complications of a Receding Chin
Retrognathia can cause problems from birth, making it difficult for babies to properly latch onto a nipple while feeding.
As the child gets older, misalignment of the teeth may affect the ability to bite or chew food, If the lower jaw is smaller, the teeth may also become crowded or irregularly positioned. Dental procedures like tooth extraction with braces can help correct the problem.
Retrognathia can also causeobstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This is a chronic sleep disorder that occurs when throat muscles slip into the airways during sleep, blocking airways and causing gaps in breathing. The set-back position of a recessed jaw can increase the risk or severity of OSA.
How Is a Receding Chin Treated?
Depending on the severity of retrognathia, treatment may or may not be necessary. Some people may pursue treatment for cosmetic reasons as comedian Carol Burnett did in 1983 when she underwent jaw surgery to correct a recessed chin.
If identified in early childhood, orthodontic treatments may help minimize the recessed appearance of the chin. One method involves the use of special headgear to slow the growth of the maxilla so that the upper and lower jaws can become better aligned.
Braces and retainers can help realign crooked teeth.
1:35Click Play to Learn About Treating Recessed Jaws
1:35
Click Play to Learn About Treating Recessed Jaws
Jaw Surgery
In late adolescence or adulthood, once bone growth is completed, a surgical procedure known asmaxillomandibular advancement (MMA)can be used to move both jaws forward.
MMA is performed in a hospital undergeneral anesthesia. The upper and lower jaws are freed with saws and chisels and placed in the correct position using titanium plates and screws. The jaw won’t need to be wired shut; instead large braces with rubber bands (called arch bars) will be placed on the teeth for six weeks to keep the jaw aligned while healing.
The major advantage of MMA is that it is the same surgery used to treat OSA.
Chin Surgery
Retrogenia commonly occurs with retrognathia and may also be surgically corrected with two relatively uncomplicated procedures:
Do Chin Exercises Help?There are numerous TikTok videos and social media posts demonstrating “chin exercises” that are said to correct a weak or receding jaw. While it is possible to tone sagging skin with chin exercises,retrognathia and retrogenia are both structural conditions involving bones. No amount of exercise can alter the position or size of these bones.
Do Chin Exercises Help?
There are numerous TikTok videos and social media posts demonstrating “chin exercises” that are said to correct a weak or receding jaw. While it is possible to tone sagging skin with chin exercises,retrognathia and retrogenia are both structural conditions involving bones. No amount of exercise can alter the position or size of these bones.
Other Treatment Options
If retrognathia is causing sleep apnea, standard treatments likecontinuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)or oral appliances can help.
TMJ is often more difficult to treat and may involve over-the-counter painkillers, ice packs, massage, relaxation techniques, and a soft diet. Oral appliances called bite plates can help prevent tooth grinding that can lead to TMJ.
When Surgery Is Needed to Treat TMJ
Summary
A receding chin, otherwise known as retrognathia, occurs when the lower jaw (mandible) is set back from the upper jaw (maxilla). Retrogenia is a condition often accompanying retrognathia in which the chin itself is small.
A receding chin may be a facial feature that runs in families or one associated with rare genetic disorders like Pierre-Robin Syndrome. The treatment may involve dental appliances, orthodontic headgear, and jaw or chin surgery.
Complications of a receding jaw include pain with chewing, temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
18 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Al-Hashmi A, Al-Saadi N.Surgical correction of mandibular retrognathia as a treatment for temporomandibular joint disorders.Oral Maxillo Surg.2015; 44(Suppl 1):e25. doi:10.1016/j.ijom.2015.08.437Joshi N, Hamdan A, Fakhouri W.Skeletal malocclusion: a developmental disorder with a life-long morbidity.J Clin Med Res. 2014; 6(6):399-408. doi:10.14740/jocmr1905wAich S, Singarapu R, Shetty A, Rathna K, Purvery PK, Shaju A.Evaluation of sagittal curving osteotomy vs conventional advancement genioplasty in retrogenia patients: a randomized control trial.J Maxillofac Oral Surg.2022 Dec;21(4):1244–1258. doi:10.1007/s12663-021-01578-1Carlson DS.Evolving concepts of heredity and genetics in orthodontics.Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop.2015 Dec;148(6):922-38. doi:10.1016/j.ajodo.2015.09.012Soto E, Ananthasekar S, Kurapati S, et al.Mandibular distraction osteogenesis as a primary intervention in infants with Pierre Robin sequence.Ann Plast Surg. 2021;86(6S Suppl 5):S545-S549. doi:10.1097/SAP.0000000000002702National Organization for Rare Disorders.Treacher Collins syndrome.National Organization of Rare Diseases.Nager syndrome.Chen Q, Zhao Y, Shen G, Dai J.Etiology and pathogenesis of hemifacial microsomia.J Dent Res. 2018;97(12):1297-1305.Verlinden CRA, van de Vijfeijken SECM, Tuinzing DB, Becking AG, Swennen GRJ.Complications of mandibular distraction osteogenesis for acquired deformities: a systematic review of the literature.Int J Oral Maxillofacial Surg. 2015;44(8):956-964. doi:10.1016/j.ijom.2014.12.008Edwards MH, Doble D, Ball L, Graham ME.Use of at-breast supplementers to facilitate feeding solely at the breast for infants with retrognathia: two case studies.Breastfeed Med.2024 Mar;19(3):228-231. doi:10.1089/bfm.2023.0268Giralt-Hernando M, Valls-Ontanon A, Guijarro-Martinez R, Masia-Gridilla J, Hernandex-Alfaro F.Impact of surgical maxillomandibular advancement upon pharyngeal airway volume and the apnoea–hypopnoea index in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea: systematic review and meta-analysis.BMJ Open Respir Res. 2019 Oct 9;6(1):e000402. doi:10.1136/bmjresp-2019-000402Penn Medicine.Maxillomandibular advancement for obstructive sleep apnea.Ramanathan M, Sonoyama-Osako R, Shimamura Y, Okui T, Kanno T.Mandibular midline osteotomy for correction of bimaxillary transverse discrepancy: a technical note.J Korean Assoc Oral Maxillofac Surg.2023 Jun 30;49(3):107–113. doi:10.5125/jkaoms.2023.49.3.107American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.Chin implant surgeryKumar BL, Raju GK, Kumar ND, Reddy GV, Naik BR, Achary CR.Long term stability following genioplasty: a cephalometric study.J Int Oral Health. 2015 Apr;7(4):44-50.Alam M, Walter AJ, Geisler A, et al.Association of facial exercise with the appearance of aging.JAMA Dermatol.2018;154(3):365–367. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2017.5142National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.CPAP: also known as continuous positive airway pressure.Gauer RL, Semidey MJ.Diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular disorders.Am Fam Physician. 2015;91(6):378-86.
18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Al-Hashmi A, Al-Saadi N.Surgical correction of mandibular retrognathia as a treatment for temporomandibular joint disorders.Oral Maxillo Surg.2015; 44(Suppl 1):e25. doi:10.1016/j.ijom.2015.08.437Joshi N, Hamdan A, Fakhouri W.Skeletal malocclusion: a developmental disorder with a life-long morbidity.J Clin Med Res. 2014; 6(6):399-408. doi:10.14740/jocmr1905wAich S, Singarapu R, Shetty A, Rathna K, Purvery PK, Shaju A.Evaluation of sagittal curving osteotomy vs conventional advancement genioplasty in retrogenia patients: a randomized control trial.J Maxillofac Oral Surg.2022 Dec;21(4):1244–1258. doi:10.1007/s12663-021-01578-1Carlson DS.Evolving concepts of heredity and genetics in orthodontics.Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop.2015 Dec;148(6):922-38. doi:10.1016/j.ajodo.2015.09.012Soto E, Ananthasekar S, Kurapati S, et al.Mandibular distraction osteogenesis as a primary intervention in infants with Pierre Robin sequence.Ann Plast Surg. 2021;86(6S Suppl 5):S545-S549. doi:10.1097/SAP.0000000000002702National Organization for Rare Disorders.Treacher Collins syndrome.National Organization of Rare Diseases.Nager syndrome.Chen Q, Zhao Y, Shen G, Dai J.Etiology and pathogenesis of hemifacial microsomia.J Dent Res. 2018;97(12):1297-1305.Verlinden CRA, van de Vijfeijken SECM, Tuinzing DB, Becking AG, Swennen GRJ.Complications of mandibular distraction osteogenesis for acquired deformities: a systematic review of the literature.Int J Oral Maxillofacial Surg. 2015;44(8):956-964. doi:10.1016/j.ijom.2014.12.008Edwards MH, Doble D, Ball L, Graham ME.Use of at-breast supplementers to facilitate feeding solely at the breast for infants with retrognathia: two case studies.Breastfeed Med.2024 Mar;19(3):228-231. doi:10.1089/bfm.2023.0268Giralt-Hernando M, Valls-Ontanon A, Guijarro-Martinez R, Masia-Gridilla J, Hernandex-Alfaro F.Impact of surgical maxillomandibular advancement upon pharyngeal airway volume and the apnoea–hypopnoea index in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea: systematic review and meta-analysis.BMJ Open Respir Res. 2019 Oct 9;6(1):e000402. doi:10.1136/bmjresp-2019-000402Penn Medicine.Maxillomandibular advancement for obstructive sleep apnea.Ramanathan M, Sonoyama-Osako R, Shimamura Y, Okui T, Kanno T.Mandibular midline osteotomy for correction of bimaxillary transverse discrepancy: a technical note.J Korean Assoc Oral Maxillofac Surg.2023 Jun 30;49(3):107–113. doi:10.5125/jkaoms.2023.49.3.107American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.Chin implant surgeryKumar BL, Raju GK, Kumar ND, Reddy GV, Naik BR, Achary CR.Long term stability following genioplasty: a cephalometric study.J Int Oral Health. 2015 Apr;7(4):44-50.Alam M, Walter AJ, Geisler A, et al.Association of facial exercise with the appearance of aging.JAMA Dermatol.2018;154(3):365–367. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2017.5142National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.CPAP: also known as continuous positive airway pressure.Gauer RL, Semidey MJ.Diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular disorders.Am Fam Physician. 2015;91(6):378-86.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Al-Hashmi A, Al-Saadi N.Surgical correction of mandibular retrognathia as a treatment for temporomandibular joint disorders.Oral Maxillo Surg.2015; 44(Suppl 1):e25. doi:10.1016/j.ijom.2015.08.437Joshi N, Hamdan A, Fakhouri W.Skeletal malocclusion: a developmental disorder with a life-long morbidity.J Clin Med Res. 2014; 6(6):399-408. doi:10.14740/jocmr1905wAich S, Singarapu R, Shetty A, Rathna K, Purvery PK, Shaju A.Evaluation of sagittal curving osteotomy vs conventional advancement genioplasty in retrogenia patients: a randomized control trial.J Maxillofac Oral Surg.2022 Dec;21(4):1244–1258. doi:10.1007/s12663-021-01578-1Carlson DS.Evolving concepts of heredity and genetics in orthodontics.Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop.2015 Dec;148(6):922-38. doi:10.1016/j.ajodo.2015.09.012Soto E, Ananthasekar S, Kurapati S, et al.Mandibular distraction osteogenesis as a primary intervention in infants with Pierre Robin sequence.Ann Plast Surg. 2021;86(6S Suppl 5):S545-S549. doi:10.1097/SAP.0000000000002702National Organization for Rare Disorders.Treacher Collins syndrome.National Organization of Rare Diseases.Nager syndrome.Chen Q, Zhao Y, Shen G, Dai J.Etiology and pathogenesis of hemifacial microsomia.J Dent Res. 2018;97(12):1297-1305.Verlinden CRA, van de Vijfeijken SECM, Tuinzing DB, Becking AG, Swennen GRJ.Complications of mandibular distraction osteogenesis for acquired deformities: a systematic review of the literature.Int J Oral Maxillofacial Surg. 2015;44(8):956-964. doi:10.1016/j.ijom.2014.12.008Edwards MH, Doble D, Ball L, Graham ME.Use of at-breast supplementers to facilitate feeding solely at the breast for infants with retrognathia: two case studies.Breastfeed Med.2024 Mar;19(3):228-231. doi:10.1089/bfm.2023.0268Giralt-Hernando M, Valls-Ontanon A, Guijarro-Martinez R, Masia-Gridilla J, Hernandex-Alfaro F.Impact of surgical maxillomandibular advancement upon pharyngeal airway volume and the apnoea–hypopnoea index in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea: systematic review and meta-analysis.BMJ Open Respir Res. 2019 Oct 9;6(1):e000402. doi:10.1136/bmjresp-2019-000402Penn Medicine.Maxillomandibular advancement for obstructive sleep apnea.Ramanathan M, Sonoyama-Osako R, Shimamura Y, Okui T, Kanno T.Mandibular midline osteotomy for correction of bimaxillary transverse discrepancy: a technical note.J Korean Assoc Oral Maxillofac Surg.2023 Jun 30;49(3):107–113. doi:10.5125/jkaoms.2023.49.3.107American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.Chin implant surgeryKumar BL, Raju GK, Kumar ND, Reddy GV, Naik BR, Achary CR.Long term stability following genioplasty: a cephalometric study.J Int Oral Health. 2015 Apr;7(4):44-50.Alam M, Walter AJ, Geisler A, et al.Association of facial exercise with the appearance of aging.JAMA Dermatol.2018;154(3):365–367. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2017.5142National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.CPAP: also known as continuous positive airway pressure.Gauer RL, Semidey MJ.Diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular disorders.Am Fam Physician. 2015;91(6):378-86.
Al-Hashmi A, Al-Saadi N.Surgical correction of mandibular retrognathia as a treatment for temporomandibular joint disorders.Oral Maxillo Surg.2015; 44(Suppl 1):e25. doi:10.1016/j.ijom.2015.08.437
Joshi N, Hamdan A, Fakhouri W.Skeletal malocclusion: a developmental disorder with a life-long morbidity.J Clin Med Res. 2014; 6(6):399-408. doi:10.14740/jocmr1905w
Aich S, Singarapu R, Shetty A, Rathna K, Purvery PK, Shaju A.Evaluation of sagittal curving osteotomy vs conventional advancement genioplasty in retrogenia patients: a randomized control trial.J Maxillofac Oral Surg.2022 Dec;21(4):1244–1258. doi:10.1007/s12663-021-01578-1
Carlson DS.Evolving concepts of heredity and genetics in orthodontics.Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop.2015 Dec;148(6):922-38. doi:10.1016/j.ajodo.2015.09.012
Soto E, Ananthasekar S, Kurapati S, et al.Mandibular distraction osteogenesis as a primary intervention in infants with Pierre Robin sequence.Ann Plast Surg. 2021;86(6S Suppl 5):S545-S549. doi:10.1097/SAP.0000000000002702
National Organization for Rare Disorders.Treacher Collins syndrome.
National Organization of Rare Diseases.Nager syndrome.
Chen Q, Zhao Y, Shen G, Dai J.Etiology and pathogenesis of hemifacial microsomia.J Dent Res. 2018;97(12):1297-1305.
Verlinden CRA, van de Vijfeijken SECM, Tuinzing DB, Becking AG, Swennen GRJ.Complications of mandibular distraction osteogenesis for acquired deformities: a systematic review of the literature.Int J Oral Maxillofacial Surg. 2015;44(8):956-964. doi:10.1016/j.ijom.2014.12.008
Edwards MH, Doble D, Ball L, Graham ME.Use of at-breast supplementers to facilitate feeding solely at the breast for infants with retrognathia: two case studies.Breastfeed Med.2024 Mar;19(3):228-231. doi:10.1089/bfm.2023.0268
Giralt-Hernando M, Valls-Ontanon A, Guijarro-Martinez R, Masia-Gridilla J, Hernandex-Alfaro F.Impact of surgical maxillomandibular advancement upon pharyngeal airway volume and the apnoea–hypopnoea index in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea: systematic review and meta-analysis.BMJ Open Respir Res. 2019 Oct 9;6(1):e000402. doi:10.1136/bmjresp-2019-000402
Penn Medicine.Maxillomandibular advancement for obstructive sleep apnea.
Ramanathan M, Sonoyama-Osako R, Shimamura Y, Okui T, Kanno T.Mandibular midline osteotomy for correction of bimaxillary transverse discrepancy: a technical note.J Korean Assoc Oral Maxillofac Surg.2023 Jun 30;49(3):107–113. doi:10.5125/jkaoms.2023.49.3.107
American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.Chin implant surgery
Kumar BL, Raju GK, Kumar ND, Reddy GV, Naik BR, Achary CR.Long term stability following genioplasty: a cephalometric study.J Int Oral Health. 2015 Apr;7(4):44-50.
Alam M, Walter AJ, Geisler A, et al.Association of facial exercise with the appearance of aging.JAMA Dermatol.2018;154(3):365–367. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2017.5142
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.CPAP: also known as continuous positive airway pressure.
Gauer RL, Semidey MJ.Diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular disorders.Am Fam Physician. 2015;91(6):378-86.
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