The teeth play several important roles for your oral and overall health, and losing even one can lead to unpleasant consequences. While you may be aware of how tooth loss can make eating and speaking difficult and oral injuries and infections more likely, you may not realize that it can significantly impact the shape of your face. Here’s a brief guide to how tooth loss can cause bone atrophy and how your dentist can help you maintain a complete and healthy smile as well as a vigorous appearance.
How Does Tooth Loss Affect the Shape of the Face?
The jawbones receive the stimulation they need to remain healthy and strong during the chewing process, and some of this exercise is eliminated after a tooth is lost. Without this stress, the part of the jawbone that supported the missing tooth will begin to atrophy and recede, and this can pull the neighboring teeth out of alignment, which makes them more vulnerable to injury and infection as well as further tooth loss. If this cycle is allowed to continue, the patient’s mouth may take on a sunken and withered appearance.
Can Traditional Restorations Maintain the Shape of My Face?
Traditional dental restorations can support the remaining natural teeth and make them less likely to drift out of alignment, which can help a patient keep their smile straight and avoid oral health issues that can lead to further tooth loss. However, these devices do not restore the exercise the jawbone needs to stay strong, so the mouth will continue to atrophy and change shape. This makes it necessary to replace the restoration every few years to make sure the patient enjoys a comfortable fit.
How Can I Maintain the Shape of My Face After Tooth Loss?
Dental implants are the ideal form of tooth replacement because they look, work, and feel just like the real thing, and they can do this because they are anchored securely within the jawbone. Dental implants are placed through a specialized surgical procedure that allows them to fuse with the jaw through the natural process of osseointegration, and this gives the restorations mounted upon them the sturdy foundation they need to exert maximum chewing power and last for decades.
Implants also restore the exercise the jaw needs to stay strong, so receiving them may allow a patient to prevent or even reverse the process of jawbone erosion.
Dental implants are an excellent way to rebuild your smile after tooth loss. Consulting with your dentist can help you understand the best way to restore your grin.
About the Author
Dr. Jun Eon Weaver earned his degree at the University of the Pacific in San Francisco and takes great pride in helping his patients enjoy pleasant and effective dental healthcare. Hise office in Sumner offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as dental implants. To learn more about replacing lost teeth, contact his practice on the web or dial (253) 863-8138.