Can Dental Implants Help You Look Younger?

Dental implants are not a facelift, but they can help you look more like yourself. Your teeth, and the bone that holds them, support your lips, cheeks and the lower part of your face. When teeth are lost, the cheeks or lips can sink in and the bone that held the roots can deteriorate over time. Because an implant replaces the root as well as the tooth, it helps prevent that bone deterioration, and the teeth it holds restore the support your face was missing.

One implant patient of Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS put it simply in a review published on the practice’s website: “They look great, I feel and look younger.” This guide explains the connection between missing teeth, bone and facial appearance, what implants can and can’t do about it, and how to plan implants at any stage of life at the Timonium, MD office.

What missing teeth do to your face over time

You need all of your teeth to chew and speak properly and to keep them in alignment. When a tooth is lost, several changes can follow:

• Teeth shift. The remaining teeth can drift into the space, and the bite can become misaligned.
• Bone deteriorates. Without a root to support, the jawbone in that area can wear away.
• The face loses support. The cheeks or lips can sink in where teeth are missing.
• Gum health suffers. Untreated gaps significantly increase the risk of gum disease.

None of this happens overnight, which is why it is easy to miss until a smile or profile no longer looks the way you remember. For more on the effects of a single gap, read what a missing tooth says about you.

Why a conventional denture can’t stop the change on its own

A conventional denture replaces the teeth you see, which restores a great deal of support for the lips and cheeks. What it can’t replace is the roots. A denture rests on the gums, and a poorly fitting denture can cause problems with the underlying tissues and lead to bone loss. As the bone and gums change, a denture that once fit well gets looser.

That is where implants make the difference. Implant-supported dentures use strategically placed implants to hold the denture in place, and they support the jawbone and help prevent bone deterioration. If a denture already feels loose, read loose dentures: causes and fixes.

How implants support your face

An implant acts as a new root in the jawbone, which is what separates it from every other way of replacing teeth. Depending on how many teeth are missing, that support can come in different forms:

• A single implant replaces one tooth without touching the teeth beside it, so a gap doesn’t lead to shifting.
• An implant bridge uses two or more implants to hold three or more teeth.
• Snap-on implant teeth clip onto implants. The upper set is horseshoe-shaped and leaves your palate uncovered, unlike a bulkier full denture.
• Fixed full-arch teeth are screwed or cemented onto four or more implants. They are the smallest full replacement style available and don’t move while you eat.

Front teeth and the look of your smile

Front teeth have the biggest effect on how your smile looks, and they need the most care. The upper front jawbone can deteriorate rapidly if a tooth is removed incorrectly, if the socket isn’t preserved with grafting, or if a poorly placed implant leads to bone loss. For that reason, front implants at the practice use smaller implants, customized ceramic abutment posts and computer-guided surgery almost every time, and grafting or orthodontics is considered where needed. In this office, implants make up 98% of what patients choose to replace missing front teeth. See front tooth implants.

Implants as part of a younger-looking smile

Replacing teeth is often only part of what makes a smile look fresher. Because each front tooth implant affects your smile, Dr. Haywood looks at how implant work can be coordinated with other treatments, whether that means restoring the smile you once had or creating the one you have always wanted.

• Whitening brightens natural teeth, and it helps to talk about timing before new teeth are made, since whitening agents act on natural enamel rather than porcelain.
• Porcelain veneers can improve chips, gaps, stains and crooked teeth on the teeth you keep.
• A gum lift can correct a gummy smile caused by extra gum tissue.
• Cosmetic imaging changes digital photos of your smile on screen so you can preview the result before you commit.

Dr. Haywood is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, so both sides of the plan are handled together. Explore cosmetic dentistry in Timonium.

Is it ever too late for implants?

A tooth that has been missing for years is still worth asking about. When a tooth has been gone a long time or never developed, orthodontics and bone grafting are considered as part of the plan, and a 3D cone beam CT scan shows what your bone can support. If you need grafting, you’ll know at that same visit. People who have worn dentures for years can often have implants placed under the dentures they already have, though new, properly constructed dentures are often recommended for the best long-term value.

Planning implants as you get older

• Share your health history. Before surgical treatment, tell the practice about medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, artificial joints or heart valves, and every medication you take, including blood thinners.
• Plan for change. With a snap-on implant partial, a tooth can simply be added if you lose another, which makes it an easier way to plan ahead for changes that come with aging.
• Stage the cost. Many people start a lower snap-on denture on two implants and add more later.
• Protect what you have. Cleanings every 3–4 months keep implants healthy, and a night guard protects them if you grind. Read how to care for dental implants in 4 steps.

Paying for implant treatment

The practice is out of network with all dental insurance companies. You pay at the time of your visit, and the office files the claim on your behalf so your plan can reimburse you for what it covers. Health savings and flex plans are welcome, and financing is available through CareCredit, with no-interest options for up to 12 months, and Cherry, with plans from 3 to 24 months.

Frequently asked questions

Can dental implants change the shape of my face?

Implants don’t reshape your face, but they replace the roots that keep the jawbone supported and hold teeth that support your lips and cheeks. That helps prevent the bone deterioration and sunken look that can follow tooth loss.

Are implants worth it if I already wear dentures?

Many denture wearers find implants make a real difference. Implant-supported dentures don’t slip or click, and they help prevent bone deterioration under the denture.

Will a front implant look natural?

That is the goal of front implant planning: smaller implants, custom ceramic abutments and guided placement, coordinated with any cosmetic work so the new tooth suits your smile.

Do implant teeth stain as they age?

Porcelain resists stains better than natural teeth, so implant crowns tend to hold their color while natural teeth can darken. That is one reason to plan whitening and new teeth together.

See what implants could do for your smile

Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS has over 35 years of experience in cosmetic and implant dentistry. Learn more about dental implants in Timonium, request an appointment or call (410) 453-9399. The office is at 108 W Timonium Rd, Ste 200, Timonium, MD 21093.