Did you know that in the first year after losing a permanent tooth, you lose 25% of your jawbone density? As it weakens, it can impact both your oral health as well as your appearance. Not only can it lead to additional tooth loss, but it can also alter the shape of your face.
Fortunately, your dentist can prevent these changes with dental implants. These are the only replacement teeth that are surgically embedded into your jawbone for added strength and stability, among many other benefits.
Continue reading to learn more about how dental implants can preserve your facial structure!
How Do Missing Teeth Cause Facial Collapse?
The roots of your teeth play a role in maintaining your visage because they stimulate your jawbone every time you bite down or chew. When one goes missing, there’s nothing there to stimulate new bone growth, so your jaw starts to atrophy. Your face depends on your jaw to support it, and as the bone thins, you could start to see the following changes:
- Facial angles. As your jaw erodes, it starts to lower in relation to your other features. This can make noses look larger, and cheeks look more sunken or hallowed.
- More wrinkles. As gravity pulls down on your cheeks and jaw, you’ll develop additional fine lines.
- Bite alignment. Your remaining pearly whites may shift out of their places to fill in the spaces left behind so that they no longer come together correctly when you close your mouth. This can lead to a grumpy expression because the corners of your lips lose their shape.
- Chin rotation. A deteriorating bite can cause your chin to jut forward prominently.
- Thinning lips. As your jawbone weakens, the muscles and ligaments in your mouth loosen, making your lips look longer rather than fuller.
- Cheek jowls. Loose muscles mean that your cheeks aren’t supported, and the skin starts to sag.
How Do Dental Implants Preserve My Facial Structure?
Dental implants are unique because they rely on a titanium rod that’s inserted directly into your jawbone as an anchor. Once these poles are placed, it can take 3 to 9 months to heal, depending on your unique circumstances. During this time, your jawbone fuses with the titanium in a process known as osseointegration.
Once that’s complete, your restoration functions like a root to stimulate your jaw every time you bite down. This triggers additional bone growth so that your jawbone, and therefore your facial shape, remains intact.
If you’ve suffered tooth loss, rebuilding your smile with dental implants can help you preserve your appearance and oral health!
About the Practice
At Elite Dental of Fountain Valley, two highly skilled dentists offer a full range of services to meet all your needs under one roof, including dental implants. They take the time to get to know you and your dental concerns so that they can offer fully individualized solutions if a problem arises. Patient comfort is prioritized with a welcoming atmosphere, and they offer sedation dentistry for those who are anxious about appointments. They utilize state-of-the-art equipment to perform even the most complex procedures, including implant surgery, in the office. If you’re looking to replace missing teeth, you can request a consultation on the website or by calling (714) 962-4486.