Benefit of Hyaluronic Acid to Treat Facial Aging in Completely Edentulous Patients

Abstract

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is widely used in aesthetic medicine for its moisturizing and anti-aging action. This molecule, which is naturally present in the body, has an interesting response to aging, accentuated in totally edentulous patients. While its aesthetic benefits for facial rejuvenation are well-documented, there is a lack of description and investigation on its therapeutic usefulness for edentulous patients. The management of completely edentulous patients is a daily reality in dental practice and requires specific attention. The aesthetic and functional challenge is considerable. The displacement of the bone base, which is often marked, and lack of soft tissue support are sometimes difficult to correct with prosthetic reconstruction. This review aims to present the physiological processes appearing in completely edentulous patients and prosthetic solutions available to recreate oral functions and counteract facial aging. As prosthetic rehabilitations are not fully satisfying for counterbalancing the impression of excessive facial aging, we investigated the applications of HA injection in the perioral area, in order to improve edentulism treatment, and discussed the advantages and disadvantages, compared to other dermal fillers and rejuvenation therapies. Considering the specific situations of edentulous patients, dermal HA injections help to correct uncompensated bone losses and mucous volume losses and appear to be a therapeutically beneficial for treating completely edentulous patients, without the requirement to full rejuvenation therapy.

Anatomo - Morphological Features of an Edentulous Upper Jaw

“…[12,13,14] Jaw atrophy varies individually in amount, rate, and location and is influenced by a variety of factors. [15,16,17,18] It is the result of bone remodeling affecting the external and internal structure, which is dependent on anatomic, metabolic, functional and prosthetic factors. [19] In prosthetic dentistry, there are several types of atrophy: physiological (irreversible process), afunctional and hyperfunctional.…”

Comparing the Effects of Different Injection Techniques Used in Lip Augmentation on Filler Migration and Patient Satisfaction

“…Musicians who play instruments such as flutes are not suitable patients, as they may impair lip movements. High amounts may affect lip movements, eating, and drinking [ 16 ].…”

Aesthetic Rehabilitation Medicine: Enhancing Wellbeing beyond Functional Recovery

“…Beyond aesthetics, HA serves various purposes in the rehabilitation process. In the treatment of edentulism, it can be complemented with microfocused ultrasound, radiofrequency, botulinum toxin, and prosthetics [99]. The use of HA fillers in the peri-oral area, including the lips, nasolabial and labiomandibular folds, and labiomental crease, enables physicians to provide a more comprehensive and natural treatment for edentulous patients.…”