Many people seek a youthful appearance to their face, which includes firm, tight skin and jawlines. Though you complete a good skincare routine, you might see a sagging, loose look in your face due to issues with your dental health that skincare cannot fix. If you notice changes in your facial structure, you should consult with your dentist to pinpoint the cause.
A dentist can restore the appearance of your face and smile as well. Schedule a dental consultation today to find personalized dental solutions. Read on to learn more about the appearance of sagging in the face and how your dentist can help you reverse this effect.
What Causes Facial Sagging?
You might associate facial sagging with loose or baggy skin, but this alteration in your face shape can occur due to changes in your jaw because of dental concerns as well. With this phenomenon, you can see shrinkage in the lower part of the face, especially near the chin. This can make you appear older as well as impact your ability to perform oral functions.
This problem arises when you lose one or more teeth. Tooth loss can happen for a number of reasons, including extensive dental problems or impact trauma to the face. But if a tooth falls out, you can continue to face oral health complications, including in your jaw.
Usually, you have a full set of teeth, and each tooth features a root that extends to the jaw. The tooth root stimulates the bone in the jaw to keep it strong and stable. When you lose a tooth, the jaw no longer receives stimulation, and the bone starts to deteriorate in its absence.
When you lose bone in the jaw, this will reflect in the shape of your face. You can see a smaller jaw, which will cause the surrounding skin to sag. You cannot stop this from occurring on your own when you have missing teeth.
How Do I Prevent Facial Sagging?
You can preserve your facial structure by taking efforts to prevent tooth loss. If your jaw continues to receive stimulation from your teeth, it will not deteriorate, so you will not see facial sagging.
Common causes of tooth loss include gum disease and advanced tooth decay. To avoid contracting harmful oral infections or forming cavities, practice good oral hygiene and visit your dentist for routine exams and teeth cleanings.
If you do lose a tooth, seek prompt tooth replacement from your dentist. Specifically, dental implants will replace missing teeth both above and below the gumline. So it will create stimulation in the jaw again to prevent bone loss.
Can My Dentist Restore My Facial Structure?
If you already lost bone in your jaw, you might not be able to receive a dental implant. The fixture relies on the fusion of the anchor of the device with the jawbone to provide support for the prosthetic teeth. Without enough healthy bones, this process cannot occur successfully.
The dentist evaluates your jawbone health with X-ray imaging prior to starting this treatment. If you lost too much jawbone, they can suggest a bone graft which will add structure and shape to the jaw. It might then sustain an implant which will also restore your facial and dental structure. If you would like more information on our restorative dental offerings, see Restorative dentistry.