What are the signs of an aging smile, and is de-aging a thing?

Your smile tells strangers much about you, such as how you are feeling and even your age. No one wants to look older than they are, and if you feel like this is the case for you, then your smile could be the culprit!

Patients are often concerned about their teeth’s appearance and wonder how to look younger. Fortunately, thanks to modern dentistry, you can achieve a younger look through a variety of de-aging dentistry techniques.

5 Clear Signs of Aging Teeth

Some signs of an aging smile are readily apparent, like wrinkles around the mouth, drooping jowls, and teeth that lose luster. Wrinkles and saggy jowls often come from decreased muscle tone and clenching your jaw. But 5 other signs of aging may not be as obvious. 

1. Shape: Shortened Teeth 

After many years of good use, teeth begin wearing down. Normal wear and tear can cause them to lose length and become shorter. These shortened teeth can give you an older appearance.

2. Damage: Chips and Cracks

Similarly, regular use over time can result in damage to the edges of your teeth, such as cracking and chipping. When your teeth’s edges are uneven or less rounded, your smile may appear older than it really is.

3. Color: Dull and Yellow  

Skin and teeth have something in common—as they age, they lose their natural luster. After regularly consuming foods that stain and acidic drinks, over time, your teeth can become dull and yellow. Because darker teeth are also often a natural result of the aging process, dull teeth can contribute to a less youthful appearance.

4. Gums: Aging and Diseased 

Your gums may begin to recede with age or as a result of certain habits. These habits may include: 

• Aggressive brushing. 
• Improper oral hygiene.
• Smoking.

As a result, your gums cause more of your tooth to become exposed, which leads to tooth sensitivity and a more aged appearance.  

5. Tooth Structure: Natural Changes 

Enamel is the rigid coating on the outer surface of every tooth. It has a white color that is slightly translucent. Dentin lies underneath the enamel layer and is a darker, yellowish color. It’s thicker than enamel and continues to get thicker as you age. 

As enamel continues to get thinner and more translucent, the dentin begins to show through more, and this thick layer of yellow under the transparent enamel can eventually create a yellow appearance on your teeth.

How Cosmetic Dentistry Can Make You Look Younger

Everyone wants to know celebrities’ secrets on how to look younger. In Hollywood, digital techniques are used to de-age actors, and the difference is impressive! 

With cosmetic dentistry, you can achieve a younger appearance in real life using certain de-aging dentistry techniques to make your smile look youthful again. Here’s a few of them. 

Teeth Whitening    

Professional-grade teeth whitening methods are some of the most straightforward and cost-effective ways to de-age your smile. There are many over-the-counter products, but they are less effective. Treatments used by Dr. Desai, your Newport Beach, CA, dentist, are FDA-approved to remove staining from your enamel.  

Porcelain Veneers 

Although it can alter the color of your enamel, teeth whitening cannot whiten dentin. If your teeth appear yellow because of age, veneers are a favored choice in de-aging dentistry. These thin coverings match your tooth’s original beauty and can be used to transform your smile’s color, size, and shape. 

Dental Crowns 

Sometimes a tooth has become significantly decayed or darkened from dental trauma and can’t be restored with veneers. Dental crowns are the best solution for these cases. A crown resembles a real tooth but covers the visible portion of the tooth while the root remains intact.

Porcelain and composite crowns are natural-looking and can last for decades.   

Replacing Aging Restorations 

There have been many advances in cosmetic dentistry over the last few years. You now have modern, more aesthetic options to replace outdated fillings that have become darkened with age. 

Tooth-colored fillings can replace silver-amalgam fillings. Extensive cavities might be restored using porcelain inlays or onlays, giving you a beautiful, long-lasting filling that won’t stain. 

Gum Grafting 

If your gums have receded, a cosmetic dentist can restore the tissue through grafting. This minimally invasive procedure can be completed in a single visit and only requires local anesthetic.

Traditionally, tissue from somewhere else in your mouth, like your cheek, is removed and placed over the site. However, newer methods often use grafting material made in a laboratory.   

Clear Aligners 

Age can cause your teeth to shift and impact your appearance. Decades ago, braces were the only option. Today, cosmetic dentists can use clear aligners to correct most misaligned teeth, requiring months of treatment rather than years. 

Achieve a More Youthful Smile 

With a commitment to personal care and excellence for every patient, Dr. Desai of Luminous Smiles can bring back the youthfulness of your smile. 

Dr. Desai is the only female American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry–accredited doctor in Newport Beach. She understands facial structure and has learned a range of effective techniques that can take years off your appearance. To begin your customized de-aging dentistry treatment plan, contact Luminous Smiles today.