HOW YOUR SMILE CHANGES WITH AGE

HOW YOUR SMILE CHANGES WITH AGE and the oral obstacles that lead to an aging smile

Mmmmmm…., unlike a 1983 Chateau Margaux (Vintage Red Bordeaux wine) that improves with age and starts to show its beauty after 20 some years our smile, unfortunately, does not improve with age. That lustrous, lambent smile we used to have in our teens has succumbed to the ravages of time and bad habits and eventually left us with one that we now try to hide. Fortunately, today there are more options to improve one’s smile at any age, and give you back that gleaming white ear-to-ear grin.

So what are the causes of an aging smile? 

Discoloration:  The color of our teeth is influenced by a number of factors. Number one factor is that ever so popular cup of Java we have to have in the morning and throughout the day in order to function. Other causes that contribute to the staining of our pearly whites are Tea, Chocolate, Red Wine and Smoking. So can extended exposure to certain medications. Among other things are root canal treated teeth and teeth with old fillings and of course dental decay.

Gum Recessions: That long tooth appearance is due to a receding gum line which can be due to a number of reasons such as self inflicted habits, gum disease and grinding. The empty space between teeth that have receding gums are called black triangle, which makes the smile appear much older.

Fillings: The unfortunate few of us had cavities filled since our childhood and throughout adulthood. Some of these old, silver fillings have discolored the teeth to an ugly black back tooth.








Crowding: Misalignment of teeth or incorrect relation between the teeth of the two arches.

Periodontal Disease: Because of neglect, or even genetic factors, bone loss around the teeth can cause tooth loss, crowding and shifting of teeth.

Ugly Gums: Asymmetrical gum tissue, where the gum line is lower on one tooth than it is on the other. "Gummy Smile" which simply means to much gum tissue covering the tooth.

Grinding: Nothing causes an aged look more than worn-down teeth. It is one of the most problematic dental issues that if not caught early could lead to more severe symptoms such as headaches, clicking of the joints, dizziness, neck pain and more. Grinding causes wear on teeth which lead to a collapse of the bite. This will cause a loss of facial muscle tone and sagging of the muscles.

Fortunately, today’s dentistry can offer many solutions to the above mentioned obstacles to pave the way to a perfect, healthy smile. With procedures such as:

Whitening:  It is the simplest solution to a dazzling white smile. There many systems out there that will help you – from inexpensive at-home bleaching trays and whitening strips to professional laser bleaching in dental offices that give immediate results. It is always advisable to have a dental examination prior to any whitening procedure. One reason: Bleaching teeth that have gum recessions can cause sever sensitivity and pain.

Orthodontics:  It is never too late to get your teeth in line. This doesn't mean you have to prepare yourself for a couple of years of metal braces in adulthood. Today’s most popular teeth-straightening methods such as “Invisalign” and Cosmetic Self Ligating Brackets yield results much quicker and more convenient.

 

Tooth-colored fillings:  If you’re a senior, a baby boomer, or even a Gen X’er, chances are your back teeth are chock full of silver-mercury fillings. These fillings-reminder of your misspent, candy-prone youth in the years before widespread water fluoridation- once seemed like perfectly reasonable foreign objects to have in your mouth. But not today. Today these metal nuggets are considered outdated, in spite of your dental insurance opinion, which would rather pay for the less expensive silver fillings. They are outmoded not just because they are blackened and rough and ugly, it is because they have got competition: natural looking, tooth colored fillings which literally bond to the teeth.

Porcelain Veneers:  These are wafer-thin shells of porcelain that are bonded onto the front side of the teeth that are discolored, worn, chipped or are out of alignment. They are the fastest way to correct crooked, misaligned teeth, sometimes also called “Instant Orthodontics”. With proper care they should remain bright white for many years.

Before

After

Your teeth may be white and straight but other problems can stand between you and a spectacular smile. 

One of the most problematic dental issues is the misplacement of the jaw, which can result in teeth grinding, clicking joints, headaches, dizziness, and so on. This problem is also known as TMJD (Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction). It is a tooth born problem that affects the muscles, nerves and joints and eventually the whole body could overcompensate for this whole misalignment.

From this misalignment, the cosmetic effect follows. The muscles in a bad bite are not in their right place, and the teeth may try to compensate by shifting, which can lead to crowding. In other instances if teeth can’t shift they can break. Now, if you had your teeth veneered you can imagine what will happen.

Correcting this problem via a Gneuromuscular approach can and will resolve this problem and give you a long-lasting and healthy smile.

Selecting a cosmetic dentist

  

Cosmetic dentistry is not taught in dental schools and it is not something that is mastered by one day lectures. There are criteria’s that substantiates the cosmetic dentist’s experience and expertise. There are many dentists who say they do cosmetic dentistry, but you want a dentist who has received training from an institute where they teach this kind of work. It is best to ask the dentist you have chosen for his training he or she may have received, their experience and expertise. Ask them to show you their own gallery of cases they have done and not a fabricated album they have purchased from dental vendors. Ask them for references of patients they have done cosmetic work on. Remember it is your smile, your most important possession you are placing into their hand.