Q.
Hi Andrew. I have a few questions, I’ll try to be as breif as possible. I have been missing two lower 1st molars (either side) since my teens. My face used to sag a little back then, but not enough to bother me. When I was twenty I had two upper 2nd premolars removed, on either side. Immediately I saw a dramatic change in my face. I gained very hollow cheeks and deep nasal folds. I’ve been researching into this and apparantly only 1st molars support facial integrity, not premolars. My 2nd upper premolars originaly grew kind of behind and inbetween the 1st premolar and 1st molar, as I have a narrow arch. I’m now 34 and I’m fed up with this look, and I’m tired of people asking me if I am ill, or if I am using drugs etc.. I’ve been online looking into dermal fillers, but I’ve also read that dental implants can help restore some lost volume in the face. I think I should get the implants for health reasons as well as for aesthetic reasons. So my questions are: Will implants, placed where my lower 1st molars used to be make a difference to my cheek muscles and facial appearance in general ? There isn’t much room there and I’m also wondering if braces or some similar device would enable my teeth to be realigned to make room for implants. I also have 4 wisdom teeth that could be removed if that would help. Also, with regards to my upper jaw, since the 2nd premolars where extracted the teeth behind them (1st molars) are sunken. What I mean is the arch goes inwards where my upper 1st molars are placed, then the arch goes out again where my 2nd and 3rd molars are. Basically, it’s not really an arch. This means my upper 1st molars don’t sit over my lower teeth when my mouth is closed, they are above and behind my lower teeth. I think this has something to do with my face being sunken, more so than the upper premolar being missing, would I be correct in assuming this ? Can a brace, realign these teeth, push them out a bit ? Make the arch less narrow ? Could this technique Perhaps even make room for implants to be placed where the premolars used to situated ? If the Arch was fixed, would it help my situation ? I understand this is a lot, especially as you havn’t been able to examine me. Thanks for getting this far and taking the time to read this. Yours Sincerely.