While dentures and dental bridges are great ways to replace missing teeth, they don’t offer the stability or ease of care that comes with dental implants. They also cannot address the problem of bone loss in the jaw that occurs after tooth loss, which can detract from the youthful appearance of the face. Since dental implants are placed directly in the jaw, they can facilitate maximum chewing force while stimulating the surrounding bone structure. Here’s how dental implants can keep you looking young.
How Does Tooth Loss Cause Bone Loss?
Like every other part of your body, your jawbones need exercise to stay strong and healthy, and this stimulation normally comes as the teeth work against them during the chewing process. When a tooth is lost, the bone structure that held it in place loses this stimulation, and the jaw will soon begin to atrophy and recede. As more bone mass is lost, the neighboring teeth can be pulled out of alignment, making them harder to clean, easier to injure, and more likely to become infected, which can start the cycle of tooth loss all over again.
Does Bone Loss Make Me Look Older?
When more teeth are lost, greater areas of the jawbone begin to atrophy, and this can eventually take a visible toll on a person’s facial structure. The mouth can begin to sink into the face, causing the lips to hang more loosely and take on a wrinkly and withered appearance. Seeing this in the mirror every day can take a significant toll on a person’s confidence and self-image, and this reshaping of the jaw can also influence speech patterns, making it more difficult to pronounce many words properly.
How Can Dental Implants Keep My Face Looking Young?
Since dental implants are surgically placed directly in the jawbone, they function just like the roots of natural teeth during the chewing process and make you look younger by completing your smile. These artificial teeth not only allow you to enjoy all sorts of foods again by restoring up to 80% of chewing force, but they also stimulate the surrounding bone structure, preventing or reversing bone loss. Dental implants also make it easier to pronounce words that require you to touch the tongue to the tips of the teeth, bolstering the patient’s social confidence.
By restoring a patient’s appearance and chewing and speaking abilities, dental implants keep them looking young. With excellent care and maintenance, these wonderful tooth replacements can last a lifetime.
About the Practice
Midtown Family Dentistry of Dallas provides excellent dental care for the community of Dallas, TX. Led by Drs. Koo, Arnold, Stroud, Ludlow, and Patel, the staff sees to each patient receiving compassionate care along with stunning customer service. Areas of expertise include general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as dental implants. To schedule a dental implant consultation, contact the office online or dial (469) 529-6016.