Did All-on-4 Dental Implants Cause My Facial Sagging?

Posted by AllSmiles

Did All-on-4 dental implants cause my facial sagging? I had the dental implants placed about six months ago by a well-known implant practice in my area. Ever since the surgery, my face has looked noticeably different. My cheeks appear hollow, my skin seems to sag more, my upper lip turns downward, and even the area beneath my eyes looks less full. The space between my nose and upper lip also seems longer, and one nostril appears partially collapsed.

These changes happened immediately after the surgery rather than gradually over time. I’ve asked the dental practice what may have caused them, but I haven’t received a clear explanation. Could you help me understand what might have happened and whether these kinds of facial changes can occur after implant surgery? – Thanks. Lydia from IN

 

Lydia,

Based on your description, it sounds as though you had an All-on-4 implant-supported denture. Because we can’t examine you or review your records, we can’t say with certainty what caused the changes you’re experiencing. However, your concerns illustrate how significantly dental treatment can affect facial appearance.

Dentists have long understood that rebuilding teeth also restores support for the lips, cheeks, and lower face. In fact, some practices even refer to this as “facelift dentistry” because restoring proper tooth position and bite can create a more youthful appearance without cosmetic surgery.

Do All-on-4 Implants Cause Facial Collapse?

Properly designed All-on-4 dental implants do not cause facial collapse. A properly designed implant-supported denture should restore facial support rather than reduce it.

The changes you describe sound somewhat like facial collapse, but that is not what we would normally expect after a well-planned All-on-4 procedure. Implant-supported dentures are generally designed to restore facial height, support your lips and cheeks, and improve facial contours.

If your denture does not adequately support the surrounding tissues, its design may be contributing to the changes you’re seeing.

Possible signs include:

• Flattened or sunken cheeks
• Increased facial sagging
• Reduced facial height
• A narrower smile that provides less cheek support

If your upper and lower dentures were designed with greater width and proper vertical height, they might support your cheeks well and help restore a fuller facial appearance.

Could Implant Surgery Affect Your Nose or Upper Lip?

The changes you’ve noticed around your nose and upper lip may be related to the surgical portion of implant treatment rather than the denture itself. During All-on-4 surgery, the jawbone is often reshaped so the restoration will fit properly.

Because the upper jaw sits directly beneath your nose, removing too much bone in that area could affect the appearance of your upper lip or the base of your nose. Without examining you or reviewing your records and imaging, however, there is no way to know whether that occurred in your case.

What Can You Do Next?

If you’re unhappy with the changes you’ve experienced, it would be reasonable to schedule a thorough discussion with your implant dentist. The goal should be to carefully evaluate both the surgical results and the design of your implant dentures.

During that discussion, you may want to ask about:

• Whether your dentures provide enough support for your lips and cheeks
• Whether increasing the vertical height would improve your facial appearance
• Whether widening the smile design would provide better cheek support
• Whether remaking your dentures could improve facial contours

If the oral surgeon or implant dentist removed significant bone, rebuilding it can be difficult. However, redesigning your dentures may still improve facial support. If your concerns are not fully addressed, get a second opinion from a dentist with extensive experience in implant-supported dentures, or see a periodontist or oral surgeon to help you understand your options.

Chandler, Arizona, dentists Dr. William Walden and Dr. Tyrel Beavers sponsor this post. Read about their efforts to provide the best dental care in Chandler.