Koyote singer Shinji denied undergoing orthognathic, or double-jaw, surgery, showing jaw X-rays and saying her changed appearance resulted from dental treatment, weight loss and the passage of time.
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Shinji addressed the rumors in a video posted Aug. 19 on her YouTube channel, “What Do You Think?!?” Speculation grew after her jawline became more defined and the shape of her face and mouth changed.
“I never thought people could misunderstand me,” Shinji said, explaining that the claim she had undergone jaw surgery had gradually become accepted as fact.
According to Xportsnews, Shinji has an open bite, a form of malocclusion in which the upper and lower front teeth do not meet when the mouth is closed. She said the condition made it difficult to bite food. She previously had treatment to lengthen her teeth, but later had them filed down after comments that the result looked awkward.
Shinji said the dental work altered her bite. Her molars became higher, making it uncomfortable to close her mouth. She is now receiving additional treatment to lower the raised back teeth and rebuild her upper and lower teeth with new prosthetics.
The attending dentist said the treatment did not involve cutting, moving or reshaping the jawbones.
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“I absolutely do not touch the bone. I only performed prosthetic treatment,” the dentist said.
The dentist explained that prosthetic material was attached to the chewing surfaces of Shinji’s teeth to help close the gap, without substantially removing the tooth structure.
He said the treatment may have changed her facial impression from a softer, youthful look to a more mature one. Her substantial weight loss during the same period may also have made the difference more noticeable.
Xportsnews
ChosunBiz, citing an OSEN review of the video, reported that Shinji’s facial muscles could need time to adjust to a changed jaw-joint position. Because the muscles had adapted to their previous movement for decades, the dentist said the adjustment could take one to two years.
The video showed an X-ray of Shinji’s jaw. The dentist said the area around the jaw joint was clean and showed no signs of surgery. He also said her naturally thin jawbone did not display the thick bone line he would expect after orthognathic surgery.
The outlet noted that screws or other marks may appear near the jawline after orthognathic or facial-contouring procedures.
Maeil Business Newspaper, or MK, reported that an open bite does not automatically require jaw surgery. Depending on its cause and severity, treatment may involve orthodontic or prosthetic care, while surgery may be considered for serious skeletal abnormalities.
Shinji, who has been active for 28 years, said aging, weight loss and dental treatment had combined to fuel the misunderstanding. She has also discussed malocclusion and difficulty opening her mouth. She married singer Moon Won, who is seven years younger, in May.