When you have multiple missing teeth, it is not just the look of your smile that is compromised. Missing teeth can also change the shape of your jaw and lead to sunken cheeks, sagging skin, and wrinkles. Dental implants not only restore the look of your smile and the function of your teeth, but they can give you a more youthful appearance as well.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that are screwed into your jawbone and support crowns, fixed bridges, or all-on-4 dentures. They are the most popular type of reconstructive dental work because they are permanent and look and function just like natural teeth without any special maintenance required.
How Do Dental Implants Make You Look Younger?
When you are missing teeth, the gaps in your smile are highly vulnerable to infection, which can lead to tooth decay and further tooth loss. We might not automatically associate missing teeth with an older appearance, but most people would certainly appear younger, healthier, and more confident with a full, radiant smile. Missing teeth also causes your existing teeth also shift position in your mouth, leading to bite issues and uneven distribution of pressure on your jaw. As a result, your jawbone will deteriorate over time, causing facial collapse and sunken cheeks. Your skin will sag, which creates wrinkles.
Dental implants preserve the structural integrity of your jaw and face by acting as the roots of your teeth, filling in the gaps in your smile, and preventing your existing teeth from shifting. While dentures only restore limited tooth function and do not prevent bone loss, dental implants completely restore the function of your teeth, look much more natural than dentures, and prevent jawbone deterioration, shaving years or even decades off your appearance. If you are interested in dental implants, call our office today to learn more.