The Anti-Aging Benefits of Replacing Missing Teeth

When it comes to youthful rejuvenation procedures, your mind probably goes straight to facial cosmetic and plastic surgery treatments like fillers and facelifts. Though your teeth may not be high on your list of ways to keep you looking young, our Mesa, Arizona dentist strongly recommends that you consider the anti-aging benefits of replacing missing teeth.

The Aging Effects of Losing Teeth

When faced with the decision to save or extract a tooth, or to replace a missing tooth, you should strongly consider the long-term effects of having missing teeth, such as:

Bone Ridge Deterioration

Your teeth all have roots that are embedded within the jaw bone.  The roots help to maintain a thick bone ridge. The ridge is responsible for the fullness of your facial structure. Once you remove or lose a tooth, the bone starts to deteriorate resulting in thin, shallow bone that doesn’t support your facial profile as it did before.

Facial Wrinkles and Sagging Skin

When your face doesn’t have enough bone to fill it out and make it look smooth, you’ll notice more wrinkles and creases.

Additionally, the lack of supportive facial structure leads to sagging skin which is another characteristic that makes you appear aged prematurely.

Sunken Cheeks and Lips

When you’re missing teeth and the jaw bone deteriorates, there’s not a sufficient amount of support to hold your cheeks and lips to their fullest profile, so they sink into your mouth which is a change that makes you look prematurely aged.

Anti-Aging Dentistry

You don’t have to suffer from the aging effects of missing teeth. When faced with losing a tooth, you have different options for replacing them. Doing so will allow you to keep a youthful appearance longer.

The Anti-Aging Benefits of Dental Implants

When removing a tooth, we can replace it with a dental implant. An implant is basically a metal post that goes in the jaw bone. This step will allow the ridge to stay intact and not deteriorate over time.  A crown is an artificial tooth that is attached to the implant post which gives your facial structure the support it needs to help you maintain your youthful appearance longer.

Additionally, implants are great because they allow you to maintain the proper amount of chewing capacity so that your other teeth don’t have to work harder (and get worn down due to an unbalanced bite.)

Implant crowns are custom-made to look natural and blend with your other teeth.  You’ll be happy to know that others won’t notice you have a false tooth, meaning you’ll be more prone to smile around other people. And a healthy smile is always a great way to maintain a youthful appearance!

Replace Teeth With Dentures

If you’re missing several teeth, or all of the teeth in a single arch and replacing them with implants isn’t an option, you can get a removable appliance like a partial or full denture.

If you choose to go this route, your bone ridge will still slowly shrink over time. But as long as you wear the appliance, your cheeks and lips will be supported, and facial wrinkles along sagging skin won’t be as prominent.

Bone Augmentation

A great way to preserve jaw bone and delay deterioration is to place a bone graft in the socket of the missing root. This process is very simple ー the grafting material takes just a couple of minutes to place and is done immediately after removing the tooth.

Is Tooth Loss Inevitable In Advanced Age? 

Absolutely not. Just because you’re older doesn’t mean that it’s normal or okay for you to lose your teeth.  Staying dedicated to a proper oral hygiene routine at home will help ensure that your teeth and gums stay healthy for a lifetime.

If you or a loved one are advancing in age and brushing and flossing isn’t as easy as it once was, then you want to consider having a professional dental cleaning performed more often.  Our Mesa dentist may recommend seeing our hygienist four times per year rather than two. Together we can help you come up with a plan that will allow you to keep your teeth long-term.

Tooth Replacement Options in Mesa, AZ

If you’re missing teeth and want to see about getting them replaced, then call Eastport Dental for a consultation. We can discuss your options with you and address any questions or concerns that you may have. We look forward to helping you achieve a healthy, long-lasting smile.  Schedule your appointment today.a