Tooth loss is more than just a dental issue—it can also have a significant impact on your facial appearance. While losing a tooth might not seem like a big deal at first, the changes it causes over time can affect not only your smile but the very shape and structure of your face. Whether tooth loss is due to decay, gum disease, or injury, understanding how it affects facial aesthetics can help you take steps to preserve your natural appearance and oral health.
Here’s a closer look at how tooth loss can change the shape of your face and what you can do to prevent or reverse those effects.
Bone Loss in the Jaw
The most significant change that occurs after tooth loss happens beneath the surface. When a tooth is lost, the jawbone that once supported it begins to deteriorate due to lack of stimulation. Teeth play a crucial role in maintaining bone health—each time you chew, they send signals to the jawbone to keep it strong.
Without that stimulation, the bone gradually shrinks and weakens in a process known as bone resorption. Over time, this can cause visible changes in your facial structure, such as a sunken or collapsed appearance around the mouth and jawline.
Shortened Facial Height
Your teeth help support the vertical height of your face. When multiple teeth are missing, especially in the back of the mouth, the distance between your nose and chin can begin to shorten. This can make your face appear smaller, rounder, or more aged than before.
The lower half of the face may lose its firmness, and the skin can start to sag, contributing to wrinkles or folds around the mouth. These subtle shifts can make a person look years older—even if they’re in good overall health.
Changes in Lip Support and Cheek Volume
Your teeth don’t just help you chew—they also act as natural supports for your lips and cheeks. When teeth are missing, those soft tissues can lose their underlying structure, causing the lips to appear thinner and cheeks to hollow out.
This lack of support can make the mouth look drawn inward or “collapsed,” creating a prematurely aged or tired appearance. Many people are surprised to learn that restoring lost teeth can actually help restore fullness and balance to their facial features.
Shifting and Misalignment of Remaining Teeth
When one or more teeth are missing, the remaining teeth can start to shift into the empty spaces, altering your bite and facial symmetry. This movement can cause the jaw to sit unevenly, leading to changes in how your face looks when you smile or rest.
Over time, this misalignment can also create additional strain on your jaw joints and muscles, contributing to discomfort and even TMJ issues.
How Dental Implants Can Help
The good news is that modern dentistry offers effective solutions to prevent or reverse these changes. Dental implants are the most natural and durable way to replace missing teeth because they mimic real tooth roots and stimulate the jawbone. This helps preserve bone density, maintain facial structure, and restore a youthful, natural appearance.
Unlike dentures, which rest on the gums, implants integrate directly with the bone, providing long-term stability and preventing the “sunken” look that often follows tooth loss.
Tooth loss doesn’t just affect your smile—it can reshape your entire face over time. From bone loss and reduced facial height to sagging skin and shifting teeth, the effects can be both functional and cosmetic.
About the Practice
At Ross & Sourlis Family Dentistry of Rock Hill, we can fill the gaps in your grin and replace missing teeth with a number of solutions – everything from dental bridges to dentures to dental implants. We partner with local experts when it comes to dental implant treatment, and we have lifelike tooth replacement options to give you the most natural look possible. You’ll also enjoy working with our caring and talented dental team who are committed to your treatment. Come see why we’re a trusted provider when it comes to restorative dentistry. Schedule an appointment online or call (803) 324-5301.