Restoration or Reversal? Looking Younger with Dental Implants

If you are seeking a resilient, long-lasting solution for tooth loss, you might benefit from getting dental implants. Unlike dentures and bridges, these restorations are placed directly into your jawbone to function more like natural teeth.

This allows them to provide unique advantages over the alternatives that not only improve your oral health but also enhance your appearance. For instance, did you know that this treatment can potentially help prevent signs of aging? Continue reading to learn 3 ways dental implants help maintain a more youthful smile!

Benefit #1: Avoid Further Tooth Loss

Many people don’t realize that the roots of their teeth help keep their jawbone active and healthy because they stimulate additional bone growth each time they bite down. Unfortunately, when one or more pearly whites go missing, you can potentially lose up to 25% of the surrounding bone density within the first year. As the foundation of your mouth continues to thin, it can eventually become too frail to support your remaining teeth, leading to additional loss.

Dental implants are the only treatment that involves placing a titanium support rod into your jaw, which eventually fuses with the bone to become a more permanent part of your mouth. This allows it to function more like a natural root, helping maintain your jawbone and preserve your remaining teeth.

Benefit #2: Prevent Facial Collapse

Another common aesthetic concern for patients who have suffered tooth loss is that their thinning jawbone can potentially cause additional facial collapse. As the structure degenerates, the muscles, ligaments, and other tissues connected to it grow slack.

This, in turn, can cause changes in the shape of your face that make you look older than you feel. For instance, you might develop a receding chin, thinner lips, facial asymmetry, or sunken cheeks, all of which are often associated with aging.  

Benefit #3: Impede Additional Fine Lines

Would you be surprised to learn that getting dental implants can also potentially prevent facial wrinkles? If your jawbone thins to the point that your facial structure begins to collapse, the skin resting on top of the bone becomes looser and prone to sagging.

This can cause additional fine lines to develop in visible areas, like the corners of your lips, around your cheeks, or along your chin and jawline, which can add years to your appearance.

Thankfully, your dentist can place lifelike dental implants to preserve your jawbone and help you look and feel younger, regardless of how many teeth have gone missing!

Meet the Author

Dr. Hiren H. Shah has over a decade of experience helping people improve their daily lives by enhancing their dental health. He earned his dental doctorate from New York University and has completed 1000+ hours of continuing education to stay current with the latest treatments and technology. His caring approach is combined with advanced technology to deliver a comprehensive menu of services under one roof, including dental implant placement and restoration. If you want to rebuild your smile, you can request an appointment on the website or call (908) 834-8448.