The first thing that people see about you is your smile, just as any other part of your body, your smile evolves over time. Whether it is changes in shade that are more subtle or more structural in nature, knowing the impact of age on teeth can assist you in making proactive measures towards having a confident healthy smile at any age. The good news is; the contemporary cosmetic dental procedures have enabled you to reverse the clock in order to regain the smile you adore.
The Natural Aging Process of Your Smile
Old age is something people cannot avoid, yet very few realize the extent to which old age can transform their teeth and gums. Smile aging is a slow process, which depends on biology, lifestyle, and years of daily use – and it impacts almost all aspects of your oral health.
Enamel Wear and Tooth Shortening
The enamel coating of your teeth slowly erodes over decades. This is mostly brought about by accumulated effects of chewing, grinding (bruxism) and exposure to acidic food and beverages. The thinning of enamel may make teeth look short, more transparent along the edges, or even have small chips. This wear may as well make teeth more susceptible to heat and strain, making daily meals less comfortable.
Teeth Discoloration with Age
A shift in the colour of teeth is one of the most visible changes in a smile as a result of aging. Age related discoloration of teeth happens due to a number of reasons. With age, the outer enamel thins and the dentine that is naturally yellow tends to reveal itself more strongly. Several years of drinking coffee, tea, red wine, and some foods are also the causes of surface staining, which gets deeper as time goes by. In contrast to a mere professional whitening solution, discoloration caused by age needs structural alteration, which cannot be resolved with merely a cosmetic dental solution.
Aging Gums and Teeth
Aging gums and teeth have a correlation which most individuals have not taken seriously until they notice that the issue is obvious or painful. The gum tissue is naturally resorbed with age leaving more of the tooth root surface exposed. This may cause teeth to seem longer, a condition commonly referred to as being long in the tooth, and predisposes them to decay and sensitivity. Receding of gums may also provide food and bacteria with intervals between teeth, increasing the chances of periodontal disease. In older people, untreated periodontal disease is among the principal contributors of tooth loss and this reason makes dental treatment of seniors particularly important.
Bone Density and Facial Structure
The jawbone also changes with age below the surface. Loss of teeth or gum disease may lead to a loss of jawbone density, which changes the overall face shape. This may result in a sunken or depressed appearance around the mouth, which adds to an aged appearance in other parts of the face that are still relatively young.
Dry Mouth and Increased Decay Risk
Dry mouth is common among many older adults, and this is usually one of the side effects of the drugs that are usually prescribed to people who are hypertensive, diabetic, or depressed. Saliva is important in neutralising acid and clearing food particles and thus low saliva production highly poses a risk of tooth decay and gum disease. These alterations of medication use that necessitate dental care among the elderly should be considered to avoid rapid oral degradation.
Cosmetic Dental Treatments to Rejuvenate Your Smile
Cosmetic dentistry has evolved tremendously providing a big variety of options when it comes to the smile makeover process that can be used to target the particular aspects of aging on your mouth safely, comfortably and with permanent effects.
Professional Teeth Whitening
Professional teeth whitening is one of the most popular and available cosmetic dental procedures in cases of mild to moderate discoloration. In-clinic whitening involves clinically safe concentrations of bleaching agents that are capable of lightening the teeth by several shades in one session (contrary to over-the-counter products). Customised take-home whitening trays prescribed by your dentist are a milder, continuous treatment that is suitable in the maintenance of results.
Dental Veneers
Porcelain veneers are very thin shells that are attached on the front side of the teeth to fix discoloration, chips, cracks and uneven edges which are as a result of enamel wear. Veneers are a pillar of the smile makeover options as it is capable of correcting various aesthetic issues simultaneously to give a natural and bright look lasting up to fifteen years when well taken care of.
Composite Bonding
In cases of small chips, cracks or discoloration, composite bonding is an affordable treatment of smile aging. Your dentist puts a toothcoloured resin on the area of concern, moulds it to the right shape and uses a curing light to harden it. The outcomes are instantaneous and they can significantly enhance the overall appearance of a worn or old smile.
Dental Implants and Crowns
In the event of permanently damaged teeth or loss of teeth through old age or gum disease, dental implants can provide a permanent and natural looking solution. Meanwhile, crowns have the ability to rebuild the shape, strength, and look of highly worn teeth which act like a natural tooth.
Gum Contouring
Gum contouring can be performed on patients who need to correct a lot of recession of the gum or uneven lines of the gums so that the profile looks a lot more natural and youthful. Gum contouring when used with other cosmetic procedures can result in dramatic changes to the full-smile.
Bottom Line
Aging is not something that can be avoided but an aged-looking smile is. Whether you worry about getting old and losing teeth color, or growing old and having gums recede, or just getting tired of your smile, now-a-days cosmetic dental products have made it possible to replace functionality and attractiveness.
In Bayswater Dentist, our highly qualified team focuses on the complex dental treatment of older adults and patients of any age. We develop personalised treatment plans to suit your individual needs and goals, whether it is as simple as whitening, or as full smile makeover options. Book your consultation and make the first step toward a smile that matches the way you actually feel confident, vibrant and ageless.