Many people are unaware that the lower third of their face relies entirely on the teeth and jaw for structural support. When teeth wear down or the bite collapses, it can lead to premature aging that topical treatments and traditional surgery cannot address.

At our Wichita Falls dental practice, we view the face as a complete system, where the hard tissues of the mouth support the soft tissues of the skin. By addressing the foundations, we can give your smile a more youthful appearance that looks natural and feels comfortable.

What Is a Non-Surgical Dental Facelift?

A dental facelift is a comprehensive reconstructive process that restores the natural height and proportions of your face by rebuilding your smile. Instead of stretching the skin, we focus on restoring the underlying foundation that has been lost over time.

This approach differs from traditional cosmetic procedures in that it addresses the volume of the entire lower face. We work to reverse the sunken look and sagging skin that often accompany years of dental wear and tear.

Restoring Vertical Dimension

As teeth wear down from grinding or age, the distance between your chin and nose decreases, causing the skin to sag and fold. By restoring this vertical dimension through restorative care, we can naturally smooth out wrinkles around the mouth and lift the jawline.

When the jaw closes too far because the teeth are short, the lips tend to turn inward, and the chin moves closer to the nose. Our team utilizes physiologic principles to determine the ideal height for your bite, resulting in a more balanced and youthful facial profile.

Support for Lips and Cheeks

Properly positioned teeth provide the necessary support for your lips and cheeks, preventing a sunken or hollow appearance. This approach ensures that your facial features are supported by a healthy, functional bite rather than just aesthetic fillers.

By building out the width and position of the teeth, we provide a scaffold for the facial muscles. This can result in fuller lips and more prominent cheekbones without the need for injectable treatments.

The Science of Physiologic Dentistry at StarImage Dentistry

At our practice, we employ a physiologic approach to ensure that your new smile is not only beautiful but also functions in harmony with your muscles and nerves. This focus distinguishes our reconstructive dentistry work from standard procedures.

Dr. James Green and Dr. Dustin Van Tassell lead our clinical team, focusing on how the bite affects the rest of the body. We believe that a smile should be as comfortable as it is attractive, which is why we spend a significant amount of time analyzing your jaw’s natural resting position.

The Role of LVI Training in Reconstruction

Our restorative dentists are Fellows of the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI), meaning they have undergone extensive training in complex bite reconstruction. This expertise enables us to determine the ideal resting position for your jaw, which is a cornerstone of a successful dental facelift.

This advanced training enables us to understand the complex relationship between the teeth, the temporomandibular joints, and the surrounding muscles. While many offices focus on cosmetic dentistry from a purely visual perspective, we ensure your new smile is built to last by balancing the forces of your bite.

Precision Diagnostic Technology

We utilize advanced technology to measure the activity of your jaw muscles and the alignment of your bite with incredible accuracy. This data-driven approach ensures that your reconstruction is built on a stable foundation, preventing future dental failure.

We do not believe in guessing when it comes to your facial structure. By using digital tools to map your jaw movement, we can create restorations that fit perfectly and support your facial features in their most relaxed and youthful state.

Advanced Tools for a Youthful Smile

The success of a dental facelift depends on our ability to see what is happening beneath the surface of your smile. We invest in leading-edge technology to ensure every restoration is placed with mathematical precision.

These tools allow us to achieve results that were once thought impossible without invasive surgery. By combining clinical expertise with digital accuracy, we provide our Wichita Falls patients with predictable and life-changing outcomes.

  • BioPak System: This technology tracks jaw movement and muscle activity to determine the most comfortable and youthful bite position.
  • T-Scan Digital Bite Analysis: We utilize this technology to balance the force of your bite, ensuring that no single tooth bears too much pressure.
  • 3D CBCT Imaging: This technology enables us to visualize the relationship between your jaw joints, airway, and teeth in three dimensions.
  • SprintRay 3D Printing: We can create highly accurate models and prototypes to test your new bite before the final restorations are placed.

Who Is a Candidate for Reconstructive Facial Restoration?

This treatment is ideal for individuals who feel their smile has aged them or those who are experiencing the functional consequences of a collapsed bite. We focus on patients who seek a long-term solution that enhances both their appearance and overall well-being.

If you find yourself hiding your smile or noticing that your face appears more sunken than it used to, a reconstructive consultation is the first step. We treat each patient as an individual, designing a plan that addresses their specific aesthetic and functional concerns.

Patients with Severely Worn Teeth

If your teeth appear short or “hidden” when you speak, you likely have significant wear that has impacted your facial proportions. Rebuilding these teeth can significantly improve your appearance while restoring your ability to chew comfortably.

Through comprehensive full-mouth reconstruction, we can restore the natural shape and size of your teeth. This not only improves your smile but also provides the structural support needed to lift the lower face.

Those Considering Cosmetic Dentures

For patients who are missing all of their teeth, we offer FOY® Dentures, which are designed specifically to provide the facial support that traditional dentures often lack. This option provides a “fountain of youth” effect by maintaining the natural contours of your face.

Traditional dentures often rest on the gums in a way that allows the jaw to over-close, contributing to a prematurely aged look. FOY® Dentures are designed using physiologic principles to sit in a position that supports the lips and prevents the sunken-in look common with standard dentures.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Facelifts

Understanding the reconstructive process is essential for patients considering such a significant transformation. We have gathered these common questions to help clarify how this process differs from traditional cosmetic or surgical options.

Education is a priority at StarImage Dentistry, as we want you to feel confident in the choices you make for your health. These answers provide a starting point for the discussions we will have during your personal consultation.

A traditional facelift involves surgical tightening of the skin and muscles, whereas a dental facelift restores the underlying hard-tissue structure (the teeth and jaw). By rebuilding the foundation, we provide a more natural lift that addresses the root cause of facial collapse.

Because we are restoring the structure rather than just stretching the skin, the results often look more natural. This process can be performed independently or in conjunction with other cosmetic procedures you may be considering.

While the process involves significant restorative work, we prioritize your comfort through the use of advanced technology and sedation options if needed. Most patients find the process life-changing and well worth the investment in their long-term health and confidence.

We use gentle techniques and precise technology to ensure the process is as smooth as possible. Our goal is to make your journey toward a younger-looking smile a positive and rewarding experience.

Because we use high-quality materials and physiologic principles to balance your bite, these results are designed to be extremely durable. With proper care, your reconstructed smile can provide facial support and functional comfort for many years to come.

The longevity of your results depends on maintaining good oral hygiene and attending regular checkups. We will provide you with all the tools and information you need to keep your new smile and youthful facial structure in excellent condition.

Reclaim Your Youthful Smile Today

If you are ready to see how reconstructive dentistry can transform your appearance and your quality of life, our team is here to guide you. We invite you to experience the high-level care and precision that defines StarImage Dentistry.

Our dentists collaborate to ensure every aspect of your care is handled with the highest level of expertise. From the initial 3D scan to the final placement of your restorations, we are dedicated to your total satisfaction.

Call our office at 940-322-2252 to learn more about our reconstructive options. We look forward to helping you achieve the healthy, beautiful, and youthful smile you deserve.