Collapsing Bite - Collapsing Smile: Dental Aging - Santa Monica

The aging process affects practically every physical feature we have. Changes in hair color, hair density, complexions, skin tone, physical height and voice changes are common events we all expect as we age.

Collapsed Aging Bite

The aging process also impacts physical features that aren't so noticeable. Our physical height changes too, which involves certain boney and soft tissue structures in our spine and joints.

Aging also affects our dentition (tooth structures), our facial features and for many people, jaw positioning relationships.

The overall health of our teeth as we enter adulthood and a variety of ensuing events (cavities, broken, chipped or fractured teeth, oral infections, daily oral hygiene, eating habits, food preferences) and how we respond to them (seek timely treatment) over the years all impact the aging process of our smiles and the overall shape of our face.

Most people typically have treatments for cavities and tooth modication or replacement as a normal consequence of activities of daily living. Since many dental treatment components show signs of wear and tear differently from normal teeth, we all tend to know certain replacement needs we will have as we grow older.

Old collapsing smile

Genetic and Developmental Factors

Genetic factors, growth factors that affect certain tooth structures, eating habits and even food preferences can influence the final outcome or appearance of our teeth and smiles as we move into adulthood.

Researching the Unknown

Our patient pictured here, a professional woman, knew that she needed something besides "just dental treatment."

When she first presented in our office she admitted that she had been researching the popular concepts in dentistry... including thin shell veneers, regular veneers, porcelain crowns, laser dentistry and other popular treatments. But... she didn't know what she needed.

She had all of her original tooth structures and overall, had good oral health. She wasn't sure if all she needed was just some cosmetic treatments like veneers or something similar.

Intrigued by examples of Face Lift Dentistry treatment plans on our website, her initial goal was to find out if her overall bite and facial features (including smile behavior) were in the process of collapsing.

Worn down Teeth

Clinical Occlusal Analysis

Although bite and occlusion studies are routinely made with articulators, Dr. Muslin performs a clinical version of occlusal analysis during his consultations for new patients.

Optimized Bite - Normalized Facial Features

Both Dr. Muslin and the patient review a variety of behavioral (physical attributes pertaining to jaw positioning, eating habits, speech patterns, food preferences, etc) milestones that people have at one time or other and to what degree they have been affected.

Within a few minutes our business woman patient understood the dynamics of her smile and, for the first time, understood what is was she was "missing" in terms of her cosmetic appearance and dental function.

Worn down Teeth

Over the years the patient lost normal bite height and certain maxillary tooth structure characteristics that typically cause the normal, sinking appearance of our lips (upper, especially) and the increasing inability to smile broadly. In extreme cases, lip structures may fail to move normally during smile behavior.

A closing bite causes the lower jaw to move too far up toward the maxillary arch. Left untreated for too long, this phenomenon causes the "granny mouth" we are all familiar with... but can also cause jaw and tmj joint pain and discomfort. Eating behaviors can also change.

Dental Face Lift Success

Education: Making Informed Choices

It didn't take long for our patient to understand what physical components would be needed to recreate what Mother Nature provided for her years and years ago. She did know, nonetheless, that she wanted to avoid as much invasive dentistry as possible.

Dr. Muslin provided our patient with a menu of popular non and minimally invasive products along with custom porcelain fabrication processes that could create the cosmetic appearance she wanted, while simultaneously restablishing the best bite and occlusal dynamics that best fit her facial features.

The final outcome is quite dramatic, as shown in the adjacent photo. Our patient looks younger and feels younger with cosmetic qualities as natural as Mother Nature herself.

The photo comparisons pictured below demonstrate how the changes in vertical dimension (height of bite and jaw relationships is increased) dramatically affect the shape and length of facial characteristics.

Premature appearances of aging due to incorrect jaw positioning relationships are effectively reversed by creating the healthiest bite height that corresponds with overall facial features.

Visit our Photo Gallery to see more examples of facelift dentistry procedures.

Questions?

Not sure if you have a collapsing or collapsed bite? Need to know more about the dynamics of preventing unwanted changes in facial features caused by malocclusion?

Contact Dr. Muslin and his staff at (310) 829-6796 to arrange an appointment or use our Ask the Dentist form to contact Dr. Muslin directly to obtain the answers you need for making an informed decision about your treatment needs.

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Dental Face Lifts Reconstructive Implant Dentistry
Sam Muslin, D.D.S., M.A.G.D.
1908 Santa Monica Blvd
Southern California CA 90404
(310) 829-6796
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