A non-surgical dental alternative to a regular facelift

Procedure Summary

Every year, thousands of people undergo general anaesthetic and major surgery in an operating theatre, to reverse the effects of ageing with a surgical facelift. In addition, unlike a dental facelift, a traditional facelift requires a lengthy recuperation time, lasting weeks following the surgery.

As one woman commented after undergoing a dental facelift, “I researched surgical facelifts and was on the verge of going ahead when I heard about the dental facelift. When I thought about it, this seemed more suitable for me as I have always suffered from small and missing teeth, and it had undoubtedly caused my face to shrivel and sag. After the procedure, not only did my face look younger, I also had a beautiful smile.”

A relatively recent phenomenon, Dr Nick Mohindra developed the dental facelift using existing dental techniques, meaning that  there are no more risks than undergoing regular dental treatment.

Are you a candidate for a dental facelift?

As we age, the area between the nose and chin decreases due to the wearing down and/or loss of teeth. The end result of this process is the shrunken and sucked in appearance that we see around the mouths of many elderly people. Dr Nick Mohindra of Added Dimension Dentistry investigated how just a small number of missing and ground down teeth can result in vertical lines on the upper and lowers lips and all around the mouth. As the tension on the facial skin of the face becomes slackened, the whole face experiences a drooping effect. The jawline loosens, the chin sags and the cheeks flatten and wrinkle. As the skin loosens over the whole face, the ageing effect eventually spreads right up to the forehead.

What a dental facelift involves

A dental facelift involves increasing the height of teeth with dental crowns to alter the way the jaws meet. so that face and jaw muscles have to work harder, becoming firmer and stronger. Best performed on people who already have dentures or crowns, the effects can be seen all over the face.

The procedure is similar to a treatment that has been offered for some time to sufferers of migraines, neck and back aches. The technique is carried out using a plastic pivot initially placed within the mouth, but taken out two to six months later. As the facial muscles tone up after the procedure, you will notice improvements in a whole range of facial features, not just in the lower face – skin, nose, cheeks, lips and eyes.

“One thing in particular that amazed me,” said one patient, “was the effect the dental work had on my eyes. The repercussions of the work on my teeth led to bigger, brighter and younger-looking eyes, as well as a more youthful, taut face.”

As with all cosmetic procedures, it is essential to follow the advice of your practitioner after the procedure. This will make the outcome as successful as possible and reduce the risk of complications

Who should carry out your dental facelift?

The dental facelift was devised by Dr Nick Mohindra of Added Dimension Dentistry. Dr Mohindra practises in Wimpole Street, London, however the treatment should eventually be available to a larger number of patients around the country as more dentists become experienced in the technique.

If you have dentures, a dental facelift will cost about £4,000. If you have your own teeth it would be necessary to create a complete set of crowns costing up to £20,000. A removable appliance called the Rejuvenator is a cheaper, though less effective, alternative to a dental facelift. Costing about £850, the Rejuvenator is worn for six-week periods at night and at mealtimes, which exercises the muscle in a similar way to the dental facelift.

If a dental facelift is something that you are considering, you can discuss all of the issues mentioned here in greater depth during a consultation with a cosmetic dental surgeon.

You can listen to an interview with Dr. Nick Mohindra by Derek Watson, the Chief Executive of Dental Practitioners' Association, and add your views below.

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The content of this article has been verified
by Dr. Harmeet Kaur, BDS. of Apollonia Dental Care.

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