That’s an unnerving phrase even without any context, but it’s an inevitable reality for those who don’t replace their missing teeth. If you have a gap (or several) that you haven’t addressed, knowing what can happen, and more importantly how to stop it, can save you a lot of problems both in the short and long term.
How Tooth Loss Alters Your Face
When the teeth go missing, blood flow naturally decreases to the jawbone because it’s not supporting anything. This leads to a process called resorption, where the materials that make up the jaw are gradually redistributed to other parts of the body. This results in the bone shrinking and weakening.
As a result, this can cause:
- Lips to roll in and prematurely wrinkle
- Sunken cheeks
- Loss of facial height
- Skin sagging
- Changes to profile and jawline
All of these lead to a drastically older, less healthy appearance. This is on top of the functional issues when it comes to speaking and eating. While facial collapse doesn’t happen overnight, it can’t be avoided without replacing the teeth.
Do Dentures Cause Bone Loss?
While people with dentures can experience the symptoms of facial collapse listed above, they usually develop over a much, much longer timeframe and to a lesser degree. Wearing dentures is always better than simply going without teeth, but when it comes to completely avoiding facial change, there is really only one proven solution.
How Dental Implants Can Help
Dental implants are unique compared to other tooth replacements because instead of just sitting on top of the gums, they involve placing small titanium posts into the jawbone. These mimic tooth roots and serve as the foundation for a crown, bridge, or denture.
Beyond being extremely stable and long-lasting, implants also restore the jawbone stimulation that prevents resorption. No other treatment does this.
Whether you’re more concerned about preserving your appearance or ability to eat and speak comfortably, dental implants are the most reliable way to do so. There’s no need to wait—you can drastically improve your smile and health in the short and long term simply by talking to a dentist today.
About the Author
With decades of experience in the field of dentistry, Dr. Xhelo Shuaipaj has been providing modern dental care to the residents of Downers Grove and Lemont for more than 25 years. He is pleased to offer dental implants to those suffering from tooth loss. Holding a Fellowship in The International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI), he has taught others how to place and restore these prosthetics and gladly performs the entire procedure in-house to ensure greater convenience for his patients.
If you would like to discuss the potential for dental implants, contact us via our website or by calling (630) 912-7171 to learn more about how we can help.