THE MIDDLE-AGED MOUTH
As we age, those once white, bright and long teeth become thin, darkened, chipped and worn. Dr. Nelson refers to this as the “middle-aged mouth.” As teeth wear down, the face becomes shorter and loses its youthful shape. However, this can be reversed by lengthening one full arch with porcelain veneers or both arches in the case of extreme wear. Dr. Nelson points out that when defining what best restores youthfulness to one’s face, this component is often overlooked and it can make the most significant difference of any anti-aging antidote. “There is much talk about beauty and time,” Dr. Nelson says. “In our youths we revel in our good looks that are handed to us ... we bask in the approval and envy of others. But when we are brought low by the inroads of Father Time, it is up to us to explore opportunities to restore that beauty and, for the first time, earn it.”