Anti-Aging Dentistry: 6 Ways I Can Make You Look Younger

Do you worry about your looks changing as you age? This is a common concern. Most people might be worried about a new wrinkle, their skin complexion, graying hair or even losing their hair. However, your teeth can be one of the first areas of the body where age really begins to show.

Teeth don’t get wrinkles, but they definitely show signs of aging. Your smile is the first facial feature people notice about you. People will see your teeth and smile, and make inferences about your diet, health, and age. If your teeth are yellow or damaged, it can make you look much older. If you live with missing teeth, it will age your looks even more by causing a “sunken-in” appearance, adding more wrinkles to your face. So if you want to look younger and healthier, your teeth are a great place to start! 

You already know you should brush after meals, floss daily, and see your dentist every six months for a check up and cleaning. But even the best preventative measures can’t prevent the natural aging process of the teeth – and this is where a dentist can take 10 to 15 years off your appearance.

Here’s how I can work with you to make your entire appearance more youthful. Best of all, it’s cheaper, safer, and looks more realistic than plastic surgery.

Whiten Your Teeth

Just as the whites of your eyes suggest youthfulness, a set of shiny white choppers makes your whole face look younger.

Teeth naturally darken as we age for two reasons. One, teeth darken because they absorb color from food and drinks. This can nearly be arrested by brushing after every meal and drink.

Two, teeth yellow as we age regardless of the color they absorb from foods. This is why the teeth whitening process doesn’t appear “permanent.” The whitening itself is permanent, but as the teeth continue to yellow as they age, whitening needs to be repeated.

Even if you take fantastic care of your teeth, they will yellow. Tooth whitening, either in-office or with custom whitening trays, is the best way to achieve a deep and thorough color change that can take years off your appearance.

Straighten Your Teeth

Even if you start out with perfectly straight teeth, something called mesial drift will cause them to shift over time.

Crowded teeth are an instant giveaway of age and straightening your teeth can sometimes take 10 to 15 years off your appearance.

Crowded teeth also increase the risk of tooth decay, premature tooth loss, and gum recession, all of which guarantee looking old, not to mention requiring costly dental work.

We can use "invisible" aligners to straighten your teeth for your best, youthful smile.

Trade In Your Silver For Plastic or Porcelain

Nothing gives away your age like a mouth full of old school silver amalgam fillings; opt for tooth-colored fillings.

Cosmetic Bonding and Veneers

Cosmetic bonding adds a tooth colored resin to fix imperfections in the appearance of teeth.  Veneers are tooth masks for the teeth in the front of your smile, and can give you a perfect look.  Both of these procedures also can keep your smile looking younger. They can restore the ideal shape, structure, and look of teeth that are damaged, short or otherwise misshapen. These ultra thin layers of porcelain look and feel completely natural. Plus, veneers can be chosen in a lighter color than your natural teeth, giving you a beautiful, Hollywood smile. Since the high-quality dental porcelain of veneers mimics the same light reflecting qualities of your tooth enamel, the results will look completely natural. In as little as two visits, you can have a beautiful smile and look younger.

Use a Night Guard

Old-looking teeth have wear and tear. A night guard is a two-fer in keeping your teeth looking young: it prevents crowding by keeping teeth in place while you wear it at night and it decreases the wear and tear you put on your teeth.

While we sleep, we gnash and grind our teeth. A night guard can protect your teeth from this damage and keep your teeth looking more youthful. A lifetime of wearing a night guard is similar to the effects of sunblock in this regard.

Disease-Proof Your Mouth

Brushing after every meal and flossing daily are your best defense against old-looking teeth. See your dentist every six months for a professional cleaning and check up to make sure you are retaining gum height.

Skipping the floss? Flossing is imperative to a youthful smile. Here’s why: neglecting to floss leaves little bits of food in between your teeth. This food causes inflammation of the gums. This inflammation progresses into gingivitis (gum disease), which causes gum recession, premature tooth loss, and even heart disease!

When choosing a dentist to perform cosmetic dental treatments, it is important to choose a dental practice that has experience in cosmetic dentistry, a specialization of the field that requires additional training and uses state-of-the-art technology. Dr. Elzbieta W. Basil, DMD can serve any of your general or cosmetic dental needs. Contact our office here, or call us at (860) 561-2121 to schedule a consultation and learn more about the services we offer.

Dr. Elzbieta W. Basil, DMD, is here to serve patients living and working in West Hartford, Connecticut, and the surrounding areas, and has offices located in West Hartford Center, and New Britain, Connecticut.

Keep smiling,

Dr. Elzbieta W. Basil, DMD is a private practice dentist with offices in West Hartford Center and  New Britain, Connecticut.  She is a Clinical Instructor at the UConn School of Dental Medicine, and has won several awards naming her regional “Best Dentist” and “Top Dentist.” She is an active member of the Connecticut State Dental Association and the American Dental Association. Tel: 860-561-2121