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Have you ever thought about the negative side of tooth loss? If you have, chances are you focused on its effects on your smile and chewing ability. However, what many patients don’t realize is that losing teeth can also significantly change the shape and structure of your face! But how is that possible? Continue reading to learn how tooth loss affects your appearance and how dental implants can help!
1. Loss of Jawbone Density
The roots of your teeth play an important role in stimulating your jawbone to support its density and strength. When a tooth is lost, the surrounding bone no longer receives this stimulation and begins to deteriorate over time. As the jawbone shrinks, it can lead to a sunken appearance in the lower face. This causes your cheeks to appear hollow and your chin to shrink.
2. Weakening Facial Muscles
Teeth also help support the muscles of the face, especially those involved in chewing and facial expressions. When teeth are missing, the surrounding muscles may weaken or atrophy. Over time, this can cause changes in facial contour and definition.
3. Shifted Facial Proportions
Teeth provide support to the lips and cheeks, helping to keep them looking full and symmetrical. With tooth loss, especially in the back areas of the mouth, your soft tissues may sag or droop. This creates an aged or sour appearance, even if you’re still relatively young.
How Dental Implants Can Help
Fortunately, modern dental advancements offer amazing solutions for replacing missing teeth and restoring a youthful-looking face. Enter dental implants—a stable and long-lasting tooth replacement procedure that can solve the issues mentioned above.
After your dentist places your implants into your jawbone, it acts like a tooth root, stimulating the jawbone and keeping it strong. This prevents the loss of structure both in your chin and your facial muscles by providing necessary support!
Don’t let your loss of teeth bring you down. If you’ve already begun to see the effects of unsupported facial structure, it’s not too late! Reach out to your dentist to schedule a consultation. Soon you could have a revived smile and a restored youthful appearance.
About the Author
If your smile is incomplete in Falmouth, Dr. Rob McVety has the technology and skill to place high-quality dental implants. He earned his dental doctorate from the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine. Since then, he has honed his skills through advanced training in implant placement and beyond. Call (207) 517-7008 to schedule a dental implant consultation at Casco Bay Smiles or visit the website to see a full menu of other services they provide.