The winds of change bring many surprises in life, perhaps to the extent where you’re used to them by now. You’ve seen it all, particularly when it comes to your own body – or have you? If you’ve noticed that your facial features appear less full and vibrant, it might not be purely because of age. As it turns out, missing teeth can also cause facial sagging!
Fortunately, dental implants can support your dental structure better than any other restoration to date. Keep reading to learn how they can help you look younger for longer.
Your Teeth Build Structure
First, it’s important to understand how teeth and your facial features are related. Make no mistake, your skin, eyes, and other “surface” physical characteristics contribute to your appearance, but their dimensions are determined by bone structure. If your skin is like wrapping paper, then your teeth and jawbone are like a box that gives the wrapping paper shape.
Missing Teeth Accelerate Jawbone Deterioration
Missing teeth can cause your lips to appear small or diminished, but any dental restoration can restore fullness to your smile. What sets dental implants apart is how they preserve your jawbone.
Natural teeth are connected to the jawbone via dental roots, and transfer stimulation to the bone that helps it grow and retain essential nutrients. When they go missing, stimulation is no longer received by the jawbone, and so it starts to recede. Dental implants are designed with titanium posts that are biocompatible, allowing them to completely fuse with your jawbone. The system is very similar to that of dental roots, so it’s no surprise that time has shown dental implants effectively prevent jawbone deterioration!
Dental Implants Can Preserve Your Features
By maintaining the shape of your jawbone and dental line up, dental implants can keep your facial features from appearing hollow or weak. Your skin won’t sag as much thanks to the preserved bone mass, and your smile will look perfectly seamless. Dentists may only recommend implants for patients experiencing tooth loss, but they’re as close to a cosmetic dental treatment that a restoration can get!
If you like the sound of youthful, vibrant facial aesthetics, talk to your dentist about dental implants. They can help you determine whether implants are right for you and your smile goals.
About the Author
Dr. Zach Kingsberg is a compassionate and caring dentist who treats patients of all ages. He knows how important it is to feel good about your smile, which is why he offers quality dental implants in Dallas. If you would like to preserve your facial features and avoid jawbone deterioration caused by missing teeth, contact Dr. Kingsberg’s office at 469-333-2733