Can Your Facial Shape Change Over Time?

07/31/2025 by admin in Dental Implants, Restorative Dentistry

One of the most problematic factors associated with tooth loss is the risk of changes in the facial shape over time. Those who live with missing teeth over a prolonged period may notice differences in their jaw structure and/or a gradual shortening in the length between their nose and chin. This is due to progressive bone recession, which is marked by a gradual deterioration of the jawbone over time, leading to noticeable changes in your appearance. In this blog, our multispecialty dental team explores how missing teeth can affect the jawbone, why changes in the facial shape occur, and what you can do to prevent or reverse these effects.

What is Bone Recession?

Bone recession can occur when there is no tooth root in the gumline to hold the underlying bone tissue. Without the tooth root, the bone begins to shrink during a process called bone resorption. Over time, bone resorption can become quite severe and affect both oral function and facial aesthetics. While this will not happen overnight, bone resorption typically begins within the first few months after a tooth is lost and progresses slowly. The extent of bone loss experienced depends on factors such as:

• The number of missing teeth
• How long your tooth/teeth have been missing
• Age and general health
• Smoking and oral hygiene habits

When left untreated, the jawbone structure can lose up to 25 percent of its width within the first year alone. The resorption process continues year after year, often making future restorative options more complicated and reducing the success rate of dental implants or dentures.

Facial Changes Caused by Bone Loss

Bone deterioration affects the structural integrity of the face in many ways, including:

• Sunken Cheeks: With less bone support, the cheeks may appear hollow or collapsed.
• Premature Wrinkles: Loss of vertical height in the jaw can cause the skin around the mouth to sag, leading to deeper lines and wrinkles.
• Shortened Facial Appearance: The jaw may shrink vertically, causing the lower half of the face to look shorter or compressed.
• Shifting of Remaining Teeth: Teeth adjacent to the missing tooth can drift into the empty space, disrupting your bite and jaw alignment.

These changes can age your appearance significantly, and may even affect speech and eating. Fortunately, there are many effective solutions to restore the integrity of the underlying jawbone and strengthen bone volume.

Solutions to Prevent Bone Recession and Restore Volume

The most effective way to minimize the risk of bone recession after tooth loss is to replace missing teeth promptly, ideally with restorations that also stimulate the jawbone and support bone health. Treatments generally include:

Dental Implants

Dental implants are the gold standard for tooth replacement. Implants act like artificial tooth roots and are surgically affixed within the jawbone. Once integrated with the underlying bone, dental implants hold up the bone just like natural teeth, preserving bone density and structure.

Bone Grafting

If bone loss has already occurred, a bone graft may be necessary to rebuild the jaw before placing an implant. This procedure involves transplanting bone material during oral surgery to the affected area, encouraging new bone growth.

Implant-Supported Dentures or Bridges

These hybrid solutions offer the benefits of dentures and bridges as teeth replacements, with the added security of using dental implants to maintain bone structure. Ideal for replacing full dental arches or portions of consecutive missing teeth respectively, implant dentures and implant bridges can replace teeth while regenerating new bone dentistry and protecting bone health.

The team at Scripps Center for Dental Care understands the daily challenges of living with missing teeth and is passionate about providing personalized solutions. Please contact our La Jolla practice today to learn more about our tooth replacement options and book an appointment.

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