If you have missing teeth, then you may already know how they can affect your smile. You might have some trouble eating certain foods or feel a bit more self-conscious about the gaps, but did you know it can alter your face shape? Over time, this can happen, but you might be left wondering why. Keep reading to learn what you may expect and what you can do to prevent it.
How Tooth Loss Affects Your Facial Appearance
The roots of your natural teeth are important as they help stimulate your jawbone. Every time you bite and chew, that pressure gets sent down into your jaw. This tells your body to keep sending the needed nutrients to keep it strong and healthy. When you lose a tooth, that stimulation is gone in those areas.
Over time, your jawbone will start to get reabsorbed. This is a natural process, as your body will want to use those minerals elsewhere. Your jaw may become weaker than it was before and start to shrink. This can affect how your face looks. Many people find that their chin looks a bit more prominent or their cheeks have sunken in. This is known as facial collapse, and it makes you look older than you really are.
Not only can missing teeth affect your bone tissue, but they also affect your cheeks and lips. Without that structure to support them, you may start to notice the skin in these areas getting more wrinkles or sagging. These new lines may contribute to you feeling self-conscious about your facial appearance.
What Can You Do About Missing Teeth?
While you may be worried about facial collapse, your dentist is here to help you prevent it! You can talk to your dentist about tooth replacement options, especially dental implants. This treatment is helpful in preserving your jawbone structure as posts are placed and fused into it. Unlike dentures and bridges, you get the healthy stimulation that’s needed to keep your jaw strong.
You’ll also be able to enjoy a stronger bite that doesn’t move around and lasts for years to come with dental implants. Although missing teeth can make you look older than you really are, you can help take steps in preserving your facial structure by talking with your dentist!
About the Practice
At Healthy Smiles Dental Care of Barton City, you benefit from a compassionate team of dentists who look after you and your oral health. We understand how missing teeth can cause problems, so we are proud to help the Barton City community fill these gaps with reliable tooth replacement options, like dental implants. If you want to learn more about how to preserve your facial structure from tooth loss, schedule an appointment or call our office at (989) 736-7000.