Bone Smashing: FFO Warns Dentists About Dangerous Looksmaxxing Trend
The Fédération Française d’Orthodontie (FFO) has issued a warning to dental professionals regarding “bone smashing,” a viral social media trend involving intentional, repetitive trauma to the jaw and cheekbones. This practice, rooted in the “looksmaxxing” movement, involves striking the face with hands or objects in an attempt to create more angular facial features, leading to clinical concerns such as bone fractures, fissures, and lasting occlusal disorders.
Risks of Self-Inflicted Facial Trauma
According to the FFO, the practice of bone smashing poses significant physiological risks. While proponents claim that repeated impact strengthens the bone, the federation reports that these injuries often result in asymmetrical healing rather than increased density. The repeated trauma can cause micro-fractures and structural damage that may have long-term consequences for a patient’s facial health.
Clinical Implications for Dentists
Dental practitioners are currently on the front lines of identifying this trend. Patients who engage in bone smashing may present with unexplained occlusal issues, atypical tooth displacement, or joint pain that lacks a clear traumatic history. These mechanical impacts can alter jaw alignment, potentially disrupting essential functions such as mastication, respiration, and speech.
What May Happen Next
As these social media trends continue to gain visibility, clinicians may encounter an increase in patients presenting with atypical, trauma-related dental symptoms. A possible next step for dental practices involves incorporating questions about online aesthetic trends into routine patient assessments. By identifying these habits early, practitioners may be able to provide the necessary medical intervention to prevent chronic structural damage or long-term issues with jaw function.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is bone smashing?
It is an emerging practice where individuals intentionally strike their jaw and cheekbones with their hands or objects, aiming to change their facial structure to be more angular.
Why is the FFO concerned about this trend?
The FFO warns that the practice causes fractures, fissures, and micro-traumas, which can lead to asymmetrical bone healing and permanent damage to the jaw and surrounding structures.
How can dentists identify if a patient is engaging in this?
Dentists may notice unexplained occlusal disorders, unusual tooth movement, or joint pain that cannot be explained by the patient’s medical history, often appearing in younger patients influenced by social media content.
Are you seeing more patients presenting with symptoms related to DIY aesthetic trends in your practice?