A Cosmetic Collapse: How Tooth Loss Changes Face Shape

Most folks know that losing teeth damages your health and looks; after all, you can’t eat all of your favorite foods or converse clearly with others if you’re missing one, a few, or all of your pearly whites. Still, you may not grasp just how much tooth loss changes face shape. The process causes your facial area to age when it goes untreated, making you look older than you really are. It’s to the point that only dental implants can prevent (and even reverse) such effects! For more details, please keep reading!

Lost Teeth = Weak Jaw

There’s no question that tooth loss damages your smile’s beauty and strength. Having said that, many people don’t notice it also weakens your jaw.

Aside from chewing food, teeth also maintain your jaw’s shape; their roots stimulate your jawbone to preserve its bone tissue. So, even losing a few pearly whites will deprive your jaw of the stimulus to preserve its density. That lack leads to a gradual erosion of your jaw’s bone and gum tissue that can cause facial collapse. When that latter condition occurs, your cheeks become sunken and hollow, reminiscent of old age.

Dental Implants Fix Facial Collapse

All that said, facial collapse isn’t an insurmountable problem. You can prevent (or reverse) it by placing dental implants in your jaw’s empty sockets.

Keep in mind that dental implants fuse with your jawbone. Not long after placement, they prompt your body to grow new bone tissue to hold them in place. This effect is unique to implants and can’t be found with other, more traditional restorations. Given that fact, only implant posts act as alternative tooth roots that stimulate your jaw. They’ll ensure your face remains full and firm for years if you chew and bite with them.

Dental Implant Care Tips

Even with the points above, remember that dental implants only prevent facial collapse when they work. You’d do well to practice the following care tips after placement:

• Clean Your Dental Implants – Dental implants don’t decay or alter your oral hygiene routine, but they can fail if nearby teeth and gums get infected. Keep that from happening by brushing twice daily, flossing once daily, and rinsing with mouthwash often.
• Stick to Good Oral Habits – If you chew on ice, fingernails, and other hard objects, you could develop dental implant failure. Tobacco use can also trigger it by causing gum disease.
• Get Frequent Dental Checkups – By seeing your dentist often enough, they’ll diagnose and treat your oral issues before they threaten your dental implants.

Though tooth loss changes face shape, this nasty effect can be fixed. If you’re ready to tackle your tooth loss and address your sunken facial shape, don’t hesitate to set up a consultation with your dentist.

About the Practice

Norwood Dental Care is based in Norwood, MA. Led by Drs. David and John Michaels, our practice always aims to give you the best level of dentistry possible. That means we tailor our preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments to each patient’s mouth and its needs! Even if you need dental implants to fill out your smile, our team will happily oblige! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (781)-769-6140