With roughly 178 million people in the United States missing at least one tooth, tooth loss is certainly prevalent. However, patients are often surprised by a consequence it comes with: an aged appearance. Keep reading to learn exactly how tooth loss can change the shape of your face (and how dental implants can help combat this!).
How Tooth Loss Impacts Your Face Shape
When you chew, your teeth stimulate your jawbone, providing the stimulation it needs to stay strong and healthy. Once the tooth or teeth are no longer there, it begins to wane, resulting in a loss of height in the jawbone. This can change the angulation of your face, which makes your nose appear larger than it is. Furthermore, if the teeth that once provided support to your cheeks are missing, they can shrink or sag (this is often referred to as facial collapse). Lastly, the lack of support to your lips can result in the corners turning down in a constant frown. The thin, weak muscles can make them appear slim as well, adding to the aged look.
4 Additional Ways Tooth Loss Can Negatively Impact Your Life
While an aging appearance may give you enough of a reason to seek a solution, it isn’t the only way tooth loss can negatively impact your life. Here are a few others:
- Difficulty chewing – The gaps in your smile can make it difficult to chew and limit your diet considerably.
- Nutritional deficiencies – With foods like crunchy vegetables off the table, tooth loss can result in problems like nutritional deficiencies and indigestion.
- Trouble smiling confidently – If you’re insecure about whether or not everyone is looking at the gaps in your smile, you probably won’t show it.
- Unclear speech – Since your tongue hits the back of your teeth to make distinct sounds, even one missing tooth can significantly impact your speaking patterns.
There’s a Solution: Dental Implants
The good news is that there is a tooth-replacement option that can help restore everything from your youthful appearance to your strong bite: dental implants. This state-of-the-art solution is inserted directly into your jawbone, providing the support and stimulation it needs to stay strong. Since each dental implant is custom-made, it will look as great as it feels, and they can be used to replace a single missing tooth or an entire arch of teeth! Perhaps even more impressive, they can last for several decades with proper care. So, if you’re struggling with tooth loss – even if it’s just one missing back tooth – schedule an appointment with your dentist to see if dental implants are right for you.
About the Practice
Dr. Damon Anderson studied at the University of California, Riverside before obtaining his dental doctorate at the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry. Over the last two decades, he has pursued continuing education in everything from dental implants to full mouth reconstruction, ensuring he provides his patients with the absolute best care. If you have questions about dental implants or would like to find out if you’re a candidate for this state-of-the-art tooth-replacement option, visit our website or call (949) 643-3129.
