If you have missing teeth, you probably aren’t too happy about the gaps left in your smile due to the issue. However, a dampened grin isn’t the only thing you should be worried about—you’ll also encounter difficulty eating and speaking and be at an increased risk of losing additional teeth, as well as being susceptible to changes to your very facial structure! Fortunately, dental implants are among the most capable of tooth-restoration solutions and are certain to ger tour smile and oral health back on track. Keep reading to learn more about how they can counteract the changes in facial structure that accompany tooth loss.
Can Tooth Loss Really Change the Shape of My Face?
When you have missing teeth, the most noticeable thing about the issue is the impact it has on your smile’s appearance. However, it also influences the very structure of your face! This is because when tooth loss occurs, it leaves those areas of the jawbone totally void of any of the stimulation they’d usually receive from the roots of your teeth. Your jaw depends on this stimulation to remain healthy and strong, and it can actually start to deteriorate and shrink away if tooth loss is left unaddressed.
When this happens, your face can acquire a sunken and gaunt appearance, and this can in turn give you an older and more aged appearance. You might also experience changes in facial angles, wrinkles, thinning lips, cheek jowls, and may even inherit a chronic frowning appearance!
What Makes Dental Implants an Ideal Solution?
Fortunately, you don’t have to settle for life with missing teeth; solutions are available to restore those lost pearly whites and refurbish your quality of life! One such option, which is often referred to as the gold standard of tooth replacement, are dental implants.
Since they’re surgically embedded into the jawbone, dental implants can restore teeth from roots-to-crown and deliver lasting, unmatched stability. This also provides your jawbone with the necessary amount of stimulation to remain vital and full, which in turn will benefit your facial structure. As a result, patients with dental implants won’t just enjoy a fully functional and beautiful smile; they’ll also retain a more youthful-looking face! And better yet, since the implants are designed to function as a permanent solution, your new smile and younger-looking face will be around for several years to come!
About the Practice
The team at Brown Reynolds Snow LeNoir Dentistry is thrilled to serve the needs of patients and families in Richmond. They’re thrilled to offer a wide range of dental services including restorative options like dental implants. If you have any questions about dental implants or would like to schedule a consultation, you can contact the practice online or by phone for additional assistance: (804) 754-4161.