Do you have one or more missing teeth? If so, you are not alone! According to the American College of Prosthodontists (ACP), it’s estimated that around 178 million Americans are missing at least one tooth. While a gapped smile can affect your self-confidence, it can also begin to change the shape of your face! The reality is that tooth loss causes your jawbone to diminish, resulting in areas of your face beginning to sag and “collapse.” Luckily, there are wonderful options to restore your pearly whites, such as dental implants. Read on to learn how missing teeth impact your facial features, as well as how implants can help.
How Do Missing Teeth Affect Face Shape?
Oftentimes, an incomplete smile due to tooth loss is associated with not being able to eat the foods that you enjoy. However, even missing one tooth can begin to impact the appearance of your face. Here are some common ways how:
- Facial Angles – The length of the jawbone is affected by tooth loss, resulting in lowering facial height. Changes in the angles of the face can also make the face appear sunken or hallowed.
- Facial Wrinkles– Without your pearly whites adding fullness to your face, more vertical lines are formed and make you look older than you really are.
- Bite Pattern – Tooth loss causes changes in how your teeth come together. The deterioration of a bite pattern can cause the corners of your mouth to lose shape, creating a harsher facial expression.
- Frown Appearance – You can often appear unhappy or angry without your pearly whites shaping your mouth.
- Sagging Jowls – Missing teeth causes the muscle ligaments in your face to weaken, resulting in the sagging of facial tissue in your cheeks.
- Thinning Lips – Teeth contribute to the fullness of your lips. They will appear thinner with tooth loss. Additionally, your lips can appear longer as the muscles around your mouth become weaker without the support of your pearly whites.
How Dental Implants Can Help
Dental implants are one of the most reliable, lifelike, and durable tooth replacement options. They are connected directly to the jawbone using titanium, biocompatible steel posts. Unlike other restorations, they replicate your natural teeth, from root to crown!
Due to the ability to mimic real teeth, they can successfully restore your appearance! Not only will they return the fullness to your face, helping all the issues mentioned above, but they will continue to strengthen your facial features. The roots of your teeth activate your jawbone whenever you bite or chew. When a tooth is lost, the jawbone loses circulation, causing it to break down. Since dental implants replace the root of your teeth, they encourage blood flow in the jawbone, keeping it strong and healthy…and positively contributing to your face shape! With time, your jawbone naturally grows around the posts, which forms a bond that is as strong as the pearly whites you were born with.
If you are suffering from tooth loss, are you ready to not only restore your smile but the shape of your face? Consider the gold standard of tooth replacements: dental implants!
About the Practice
My Frederick Dentist is eager to restore your smile through the expertise of its two dentists. With the latest techniques and technologies, they provide a range of dental services, including restorative care. The entire dental implant procedure can be done in their state-of-the-art office and they can replace any number of teeth. To schedule a consultation, contact them through their website or call (301) 698-9552.