People do all sorts of things to look younger, from applying high-end skincare products to spending thousands of dollars on plastic surgery. However, those efforts may provide few benefits if the underlying structure of your face is causing you to look older. Unfortunately, tooth loss can cause that to happen! This blog discusses how tooth loss can affect your facial shape and how dental implants may be able to help you retain your youthful glow.
Tooth Loss and Your Jawbone
After the natural teeth are lost or extracted, a biological process known as resorption begins. Essentially, this means that because the tooth roots are no longer there to stimulate your jawbone, it begins to weaken and shrink. Eventually, this can cause your jaw to become significantly smaller and shorter, which can have a noticeable effect on facial shape. Alterations to your bite may also cause your chin to shift forward, leading to a “pointed” appearance.
Of course, if you only lose one or two teeth, the changes to your jawbone will be less extreme than if you become completely edentulous (without teeth). However, even seemingly minor tooth loss can weaken the jawbone and increase the risk of future tooth loss.
Tooth Loss and Your Skin
In addition to making your face look a bit shorter, tooth loss can also affect how your skin looks:
- Without teeth to support them, your cheeks may start to sag, causing your face to look sunken.
- Some sagging of facial skin may occur, which can lead to more pronounced jowls.
- Your lips may appear thinner.
- The loss of structural support for the lips may cause them to turn slightly downward, causing you to look perpetually unhappy.
How Dental Implants Can Help
While the above information might seem pretty dire, there is a way for you to prevent significant facial changes despite tooth loss!
Dental implants act as prosthetic tooth roots. When they are implanted in the jawbone, they can prevent it from deteriorating. The restorations (crowns, bridges, and dentures) that get placed on top of dental implants look incredibly natural and can also contribute to a more youthful appearance. Keep in mind that the sooner you receive dental implants, the more than can do to preserve your jawbone and help you maintain your facial shape.
Tooth loss could make you look years older than you are! Prompt tooth replacement may be the key to loving what you see in the mirror.
Meet the Practice
The team at Orbis Dental Group in San Antonio is proud to offer comprehensive dental implant services for patients with missing teeth. We pay great attention to detail during treatment; we want everyone to enjoy optimum function and aesthetics from their prosthetics. To learn more about how we may be able to serve you, contact our office at 210-496-1919.