[Health Column] Why a Good Implant Clinic Can Even Improve Wrinkles Around the Mouth

[건강칼럼] 임플란트 잘하는 곳은 입가 주름 개선까지 가능한 이유

Hello! I am the Chief Director of Bupyeong 365 Dental Clinic. Kim Hyung-seok no see.

"Doctor, ever since I lost my tooth, I feel like my face has suddenly aged a lot... 😢"

This is one of the common concerns that patients visiting our dental clinic cautiously bring up while looking in the mirror.

It is truly heartbreaking whenever I see them upset about how I am not the same as I used to be, going beyond simply finding it difficult to chew food.

In fact, if you leave missing teeth untreated for a long time, the strength supporting your lips disappears, causing the corners of your mouth to sink in and your chin to gradually move closer to your nose.

This is not just a matter of feeling, but determines the overall height of our face Because the 'occlusion' has collapsed That's what it is!

If you have been concerned about drastic facial changes and wrinkles after tooth loss, see how implant treatment can heal your precious smile and Improvement of wrinkles around the mouth Please make sure to read this post to the end to see if I can help you!

1️⃣ Why does a collapsed 'occlusal height' accelerate facial aging?

🔸 Teeth are the strongest pillars supporting the height of the lower part of the face.

In medical terms, the vertical distance from the tip of the nose to the tip of the chin when we close our mouths tightly. occlusal height It is called.

Teeth not only function to chew food, but as it turns out, they play a very important role as pillars that maintain a constant height of the lower part of our face.

💡 Facial changes that occur when teeth are lost

▶ Collapse of the pillar: If several teeth are lost or severely worn down, the height of this pillar decreases, causing the entire face to sink downward.

▶ Wrinkle deepening: When the height decreases like this, the muscles around the lips lose elasticity and curl inward. As a result, the philtrum appears longer, and the nasolabial folds become much deeper and more pronounced.

▶ Loss of dimensionality: Teeth act as a support point that holds up the lip and cheek muscles from the inside; as this support disappears, the soft tissues sag rapidly, causing even the three-dimensionality of the face to vanish.

📌 A word of advice from the director
The facial changes I thought were simply wrinkles caused by a loss of skin elasticity were actually due to lost teeth Because the basic structure of the face has changed This may be a result of what has appeared. Therefore, dental treatment is necessary to address the underlying cause.

2️⃣ How is the precise prosthetic design that restores facial balance carried out?

🔸 The skeletal characteristics and muscle relaxation points, which differ for each patient, must be analyzed in three dimensions.

To naturally restore the facial impression altered after tooth loss, a customized prosthetic design that considers each patient's unique skeletal characteristics is of the utmost importance.

This is because the height at which people feel most comfortable in their mouths varies from person to person, and the point where facial muscles naturally relax also differs.

⚠️ Avoid simply adjusting the height: You should not adjust the height based solely on mechanical measurements. You must precisely analyze the trajectory of the jaw joint's movement and the tension of the surrounding muscles in three dimensions.

✨ Achieve a natural mouth shape: Only by undergoing this process can you ensure that your jaw joint remains unstrained over time. Furthermore, it allows you to maintain a soft and natural impression without your mouth feeling awkwardly stiff when smiling or speaking.

🔎 Fine angle adjustment: If the procedure is performed without considering individual characteristics, you may be able to chew food functionally, but it can look very awkward. Therefore, it is essential to finely adjust the thickness and angle so that the prosthesis properly supports the lip and cheek muscles.

3️⃣ Why does a prosthodontist's perspective determine the aesthetic perfection?

🔸 It comprehensively predicts everything from the invisible movements of the jaw joint to the visible facial proportions.

The detailed occlusal design and facial restoration process, which requires such a high degree of precision, is precisely Prosthodontics specialist This is the field where [company's] core competencies shine the brightest.

💡 What is a Prosthodontics Specialist?
It refers to medical staff who have conducted in-depth research on 'overall prosthetic design and occlusion' and accumulated extensive experience at training hospitals certified by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Implants do not simply end with the placement of artificial teeth. It requires the insight to accurately predict, based on data, how the patient's overall facial proportions will change once the final prosthesis is in place.

The role of a prosthodontist is even more critical, especially for those who have lost multiple teeth.

Even a single very minute height error can affect the entire This is because occlusal balance can be disrupted all at once. no see.

Only when accompanied by precision that comprehensively considers everything from the minute, invisible movements of the jaw joint to the visible facial proportions, You can expect satisfactory results in both function and appearance.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Does getting dental implants really smooth out nasolabial folds or wrinkles around the mouth?

A1. If the wrinkles are caused by a lowered occlusal height (the height of the lower part of the face) due to tooth loss or wear, you can expect improvement. Re-establishing the collapsed posts with implant prostheses firmly supports the lip and cheek muscles from the inside, resulting in aesthetic reconstruction that restores sunken corners of the mouth and alleviates wrinkles.

Q2. Is this treatment a special method different from standard implants?

A2. While the essence of the treatment is the implant, the approach is different. Going beyond simply placing teeth in empty spaces, it includes a highly advanced prosthetic treatment process that involves designing custom-made prosthetics on a 1:1 basis through a comprehensive data-based analysis of jaw joint movement, muscle tension, and even the golden ratio of the face when smiling.

🎯 Conclusion: Careful choices create a healthy and beautiful smile

▶ Risk of tooth loss: Leaving missing teeth untreated does not simply result in the loss of the pleasure of chewing food. Before you even realize it, the balance of your entire face is disrupted, wrinkles around the mouth deepen, and it becomes a cause of losing confidence in your appearance.

▶ The Essence of Treatment: Dental implants are not merely a one-dimensional treatment of simply placing artificial teeth into empty spaces. They are a highly advanced prosthetic treatment that restores facial height and firmly supports the lip and cheek muscles from within, reconstructing the smile and facial features of your healthiest and most authentic self.

▶ Criteria for prudent judgment: For satisfactory results, it is essential to thoroughly examine your current oral structure and occlusion rather than making a hasty decision regarding treatment.

As a prosthodontics specialist certified by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Bupyeong 365 Dental Clinic promises precise 1:1 customized prosthetics by meticulously analyzing everything from the subtle, invisible movements of the jaw joint to the visible golden ratio of the face. We hope you find the proper care methods that are perfect for you through in-depth consultations with our expert medical staff.