When it comes to skin, anti-aging has been a hot topic around the world for decades. From home remedies to high-tech innovations, we’re constantly exploring ways to keep our skin looking firmer and more radiant. But have you ever thought about the aging process of your teeth? Probably not – and you’re not alone. For most of us, brushing and flossing twice a day is all there is to dental care. But for cosmetic dentist Dr Jassem Al Azzawi, there’s more (much, much) to going on behind the scenes to maintain a youthful smile.
“As we age, our smiles change – and not always for the better,” he candidly reveals to Vogue Arabia. “Most people don’t realise it, but dental aging quietly changes our appearance over time. Teeth may become shorter, flatter, with yellowing edges or becoming translucent. Gums begin to recede, forming dark triangles between teeth. In some cases, the upper teeth stop showing when the face is at rest – a subtle yet powerful sign of an aging smile.”
I know what you’re thinking. These subtle signs of aging are real, but they don’t actually show up until our 30s and 40s, right? Wrong. According to Al Azzawi, the process begins as early as the teenage years. “I’ve seen patients as young as 18 or 19 who already have visible signs of premature aging in their smiles, often caused by lifestyle habits, stress-induced teeth grinding and an acidic diet,” he explains.
Another often-overlooked factor as the years go by is that “the lower third of the face – from nose to chin – actually starts to shrink as the teeth wear down,” he says. “This change in facial proportions creates a sunken, collapsed appearance that affects the beauty of the entire face. It’s not just about the teeth, it’s about the harmony of the entire lower face. Your smile is the foundation of your youth, and as you age, everything above it goes with it.”
So how can you maintain optimal dental health and reverse the signs of dental aging? Dr. Jassem Al Azzawi’s Anti-Aging Dentistry Program – a world first – is a great place to start. “In fact, your teeth may start to age even earlier than your skin – and your smile will be the first to show,” he says. “The program I developed is not a single treatment, but a structured, multi-phased approach designed to detect, prevent and manage the earliest signs of dental aging.”
What inspired you to conceive the world’s first anti-aging dental program?
The idea came from a simple yet disturbing observation. I began to notice some of my patients in their early twenties – handsome and full of life – but when they smiled, their teeth took on a completely different look. Their smiles looked old. Some had severe tooth wear, gum recession, missing teeth and collapsed jaw-facial structures – symptoms usually seen in older patients. It was shocking and, to be honest, it touched me somewhere deep inside.
At that moment, I realized we needed to change. We needed to intervene before the damage was done, not after it had happened. This led me to create the Anti-Aging Dental Program – a simple yet scientific program to help patients understand, track and protect their youthful smiles from an early age. Because retaining youth is not about turning back the clock, it’s about honoring the present.
Walk us through the steps of the dental program.
We begin with a comprehensive examination phase, assessing facial proportions, resting smile exposure, tooth color, wear, gum recession, and even saliva health. This is followed by a detailed diagnostic phase, and then a risk assessment phase to determine the likelihood of accelerated tooth aging in the patient.
Next comes the Smile Age Score, a measurable scoring system to assess the extent of smile aging. After that, we move into a follow-up phase, monitoring subtle changes over time. Finally, we move into a prevention and treatment phase, which includes:
• Custom-designed night guards to prevent damage caused by teeth grinding
• Regular cleaning and polishing to avoid tartar buildup, which can cause gums to move downward
• Whitening in the office and at home to maintain a naturally youthful tooth color
• Dietary support and long-term follow-up to maintain oral and facial harmony
• In some cases, orthodontic treatment also uses clear aligners to correct an unbalanced bite. An unbalanced bite can cause excessive forces to be placed on certain teeth, which can accelerate localized tooth grinding and increase the risk of gum recession in these overburdened teeth. Addressing this issue early can ensure that forces are more evenly distributed and the foundation of the smile is better protected.
For patients with significant signs of dental aging who are particularly in need of further aesthetic correction, we offer an optional “Age Reversal” phase—the use of minimally invasive veneers to restore lost length, symmetry, and youthful proportions. However, this phase is not a core component of the program; it is an elective enhancement treatment that is only available in select cases.
How long does the program last?
The initial phase of the Age Reversal Dentistry program—including a comprehensive assessment, treatment planning, and all preventive and cosmetic treatments—can typically be completed within two weeks. It begins with professional dental photography and a fully digital dental scan so we can accurately assess the patient’s smile and facial proportions.
From here, the program runs according to a clear, structured protocol:
1. Examination phase – assesses facial balance, tooth wear, gum health, smile expression, saliva quality, and dietary habits
2. Diagnosis phase – determines specific causes of aging
3. Smile age scoring – assigns a measurable score to determine how old a smile looks
4. Risk assessment phase – predicts the likelihood of accelerated dental aging in a patient
5. Follow-up phase – monitors changes over time through reassessment
6. Treatment phase – includes non-invasive treatments such as enamel restorations, personalized night guards, shade correction, gum care, and, when necessary, orthodontic treatment with clear aligners to correct malocclusions. If left untreated, an unbalanced bite can cause greater forces to be placed on certain teeth, increasing localized bruxism and the risk of gum recession in those areas.
But the real strength of the program is its continuity. Dental aging, like natural aging, doesn’t stop – and neither does care. After the initial two weeks, the program transitions to a long-term maintenance regimen, just like a standard dental checkup. Patients return to the clinic every six months for re-evaluation, follow-up, and updated plans.
This isn’t a one-time fix, it’s a lifelong partnership. We continually track the aging process and manage its effects to ensure your smile remains youthful, fresh, and protected for years to come.
At what age do you recommend patients start considering an anti-aging dental program?
Ideally? Late adolescence—around 18 or 19 years old—is the best time to start. It may sound a little early, but this is when stress often creeps in. There’s a strong link between emotional stress and tooth aging: teeth grinding, clenching, acid reflux, dehydration—all of which accelerate tooth wear and gum changes.
Starting at this stage, we can protect your smile before it’s damaged. Prevention is always better than cure. Just like you start taking care of your skin in your 20s to keep your face glowing, you should start anti-aging dental treatments in your late teens to keep your smile naturally youthful.
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