Missing teeth can impact your facial structure. Before you undergo surgery or leave the created gap empty, you need to understand how missing teeth can change your facial shape and the steps you can take to maintain a full and youthful look. A dentist in Lincoln Park, Chicago can explain to you the importance of getting teeth replacements and what your best options are these days.
Does Wisdom Tooth Removal Impact Your Face Shape?
Wisdom tooth removal will not change the shape of your face. If you have an impacted wisdom tooth or if this tooth prevents you from effectively brushing and flossing the back molars, you should have them extracted. Your wisdom teeth grow in the dental alveolus; instead of your basal jawbone, which determines your face shape. If your face seems a bit slimmer following a wisdom teeth removal, this could be due to your diet and the disappearance of the initial facial swelling after surgery. If your face is slimming several years after the extraction of a wisdom tooth, this results from the natural soft tissue shrinking in your chin and jaw area.
When Missing Teeth Impact the Shape of Your Face
Although wisdom tooth removal does not impact your face shape or smile, the removal of your other teeth does. Your teeth roots are part of the basal jawbone structure responsible for the shape of your nose, chin, and eye sockets. If you lose teeth at a young age or senior age, the gum and bone that hold the root in place will begin to recede, impacting your facial bones and leading to a sunken appearance. The chin and nose of those who do not have teeth tend to be closer together than before. Also, wrinkles can develop around these people’s mouths.
Other Issues Associated with Tooth Removal
The absence of tooth roots due to extraction can cause the teeth that surround the missing tooth to shift out of position. This can result in crooked teeth and allow your lower and upper teeth to rub against one another, causing damage. In addition, once you lose jawbone after a tooth loss, alignment issues like exaggerated bites can occur. This can make it difficult for you to speak and eat normally.
Tooth loss can result in bone deterioration, which can take place gradually. However, the changes to the structure of your face are permanent. After some parts of your face look sunken, this can impact your self-esteem, ability to speak, confidence, and relationships. It’s best not to presume your face will not change. Rather, it is best to visit a dentist right away and discuss your treatment options.
