One of the reasons that your dentist needs as much schooling as they do to treat you effectively is because the mouth, jaw, and face are all connected in incredibly complex ways. Missing even a single tooth can have effects on the overall shape of your face and jaw.
If you’ve recently lost a tooth or had one extracted, you may wonder how that’s likely to affect your appearance overall. Here’s a little bit more information that may be helpful to you.
Why Does Missing Teeth Affect Your Face?
Obviously, losing a tooth leaves a gap in your smile. If this happens to one of your front teeth the effect on appearance is obvious, but even losing a molar can leave a small hole that can be seen when you smile.
However, the effects on your appearance run deeper than that—when you lose a tooth, the area of your jaw that once held it in place becomes underutilized, which can incentivize the body to send nutrients elsewhere. As a result, the area of the jaw that once held the tooth will begin to shrink.
This bone loss means that the face has a little bit less support than it did before. This can cause premature wrinkles, and what some patients describe as a perpetual frown.
How to Keep your Jaw Strong After Tooth Loss
If you just want to fill the gap in your smile, there are a wide variety of ways you can do that. Dentures, bridges, and dental implants can all be very effective, and each has its individual advantages.
However, if you want to stop bone loss, dental implants are the only real way to do that. Dental implants are placed directly into the jaw, which stimulates its growth.
If you’re missing a tooth, a dental implant can make a world of difference. They can turn back the clock and give you a smile that you may have been missing for a very long time!
About the Author
Dr. Daniel Weldon is a dentist who is proud to be able to offer people of all ages the treatment that they need to get their perfect smile. After years of dedication to his field, he’s gained experience in a wide variety of dental fields from dental implants to cosmetic dentistry. Dr. Weldon earned his doctorate from the University of Florida College of Dentistry in 2008, and he has remained up to date on the latest techniques through the prestigious Spear Education.
If you have any questions about tooth loss, he can be reached at his website or by phone at (352) 622-3236.