Some wonder how tooth damage can create a look of premature aging. Here are just a few ways:

• Your teeth support the shape of your mouth and lips. Patients with teeth that are angled inwards or non-symmetrically can make their lips look thin or uneven.
• As we age, our jaws become narrower. This makes our smiles appear less full (think of dark spaces on both sides of the teeth), which is commonly associated with youthful vibrancy.
• The inverted v-shaped space between the teeth—known as the incisal embrasures—can change as we age. Typically, the deeper the v here, the more feminine and youthful the smile appears.
• Wrinkles around the corners of our mouth can stem from a change in bite. These lines can be filled in by anti-aging dentistry, taking years off the mouth’s appearance.
• Similarly, repeated grinding, clenching, or just regular eating over time can diminish the length of our teeth. Short teeth can be painful in some instances and can shorten our bite, shortening the shape of our entire face and making it squarer. People who grind their teeth at night need extra attention to prevent future damage to the teeth; however, most people experience some wearing down of the teeth as they age. Even a few millimeters can make a massive difference in bite and facial structure.
• Many consider silver amalgam (which contain mercury) or black fillings to be out-of-style, which leads to extra self-consciousness about one’s smile. Here at West Hills Smiles, we use “biocompatible dentistry” biocompatible dentistry techniques—including tooth-colored fillings—that can replace or act instead of these outdated methods (and without the potentially harmful effects of mercury).