Facelift Dentistry ^®

Congenital Dental Abnormalities

It is commonly believed that collapsed bites don’t occur until we become middle aged. Normal wear and tear on our teeth wears down our biting surfaces and eventually cause jaw movements that cause the common complaint of a closed bite or loss of vertical dimension. A very normal process.

During normal growth and development, our faces go from a short round look up to age about 15 years, to
a longer, more mature look up to about 39 years. Thereafter, as our teeth wear down, we go back to a short collapsed look at about 56 years of age (degree of dental care habits influence the process).
Collapsed bites or lack of vertical dimension can also occur during our more youthful years due to a variety of congenital, developmental or trauma related causes.

Maya, our patient pictured here, had a congenital defect of having several missing teeth in her upper jaw (missing incisors is one of the most common genetic defects in dentistry).

Maya had an abnormally small upper arch which, cosmetically, created a flattened appearance to her upper lip.

Observing her pre-treatment photo closely, it can be seen that Maya had a little girl look as her upper lip is behind the lower lip and is far less prominent. Her face looks like the classic “baby face” because of her bite – occlusion is too deep. The condition of Deep Overbite typically leads to short
or collapsed facial appearance.

Facial Structure Dynamics and Cosmetic Face Lifts

Maya’s treatment plan consisted of reconstructive procedures and dental products that significantly altered the underlying structures that provide support for bite height, upper lip support, jawbone positioning (resting positions) and jaw bone movement (during eating, smiling, speaking, etc.).

Too often, people misunderstand the dynamics of a collapsing bite or smile and may undergo treatments that are truly cosmetic, yet don’t address the underlying causes of the aging smile.

Collagen treatments and Botox® injections have become almost a household word and treatment suggestion for restoring youthful appearing lips and smile behaviors.

In many cases however, as with Maya’s case, the underlying cause of inadequate structure and physical relationships between the upper and lower jaw is what warrants treatment… not just the symptom of a small mouth and forced smile.

Motion Studies and Articulation Analysis

Maya was provided a menu of treatment possibilities that would address and correct the congenitally missing teeth issue and its subsequent impact on certain developmental results as they impacted her upper jaw, bite, vertical dimension and jawbone relationships.

Fixed prosthetic bridges made of high grade porcelain products were Maya’s treatment of choice versus multiple dental implants and other orthodontic types of procedures.

Articulation studies were done to provide the technical and reconstructive data needed by Dr. Muslin and his dental ceramist to create components needed to create the physical relationships that Mother Nature didn’t provide.

Diagnostic waxups were used to assure the degree of cosmetic perfection Maya wanted in her new smile and overall appearance. The temporaries used and revised by Maya provided the final template for creating all of the aesthetic qualities she wanted. Her goal was to have teeth that looked and felt natural, as if they were her own.

The degree of change created by having an upper arch with the normal number of teeth with appropriate length and occlusal surface can be easily observed in the second (2nd) photo. Maya’s smile is full of bright appropriately sized teeth with lip support and movement that has lengthened her face, creating a beautiful, mature appearance.

The third (3rd) photo was taken several days after treatment was completed. Commonly known as a “makeover experience”… Maya’s treatment has made an important difference in the way she looks and feels about her treatment.

Maya looks and feels like a new person. Her self confidence, as it appears in her photo, speaks for itself.

You can see more and hear Maya’s comments in Dr. Muslin’s interview with KTLA-TV news reporters.

Have questions about how complex reconstructive dentistry can address facial characteristics that may have a relationship with congenital missing teeth defects or other developmental issues? Call us at (310) 829-6796 to arrange a consult or use our online Consultation form.