DO YOU LIKE YOUR SMILE?

Most people will admit that nice looking teeth make a person more attractive than not so nice looking teeth. Apparently, there are other benefits as well. In a study conducted by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) they found:

• Virtually all Americans (99.7%) believe a smile is an important social asset.
• 96% of adults believe an attractive smile makes a person more appealing to members of the opposite sex.
• 74% of adults feel an unattractive smile can hurt a person’s chances for career success.

The survey then went a little deeper. Photographs of individuals with different levels of attractiveness in their smiles were shown to 528 adults who represented a statistically valid cross section of the U.S. population. The respondents were asked to quickly judge the eight people as to how attractive, intelligent, happy, successful in their career, friendly, interesting, kind and wealthy they appeared. Individuals with more attractive teeth overwhelmingly beat out others in all areas.

Who knew that a new smile also makes you appear more intelligent, happy, wealthy, successful, interesting, sensitive and kind? While the change was most dramatic for the attractive, popular with the opposite sex, wealthy and successful in their career categories, the change was statistically significant in all areas.

So, what can you do to make your smile more attractive? It depends on your individual situation. Some people have very nice teeth that just need to be brightened up. This alone can make a huge difference. Over-the-counter white strips work very well on teeth of younger people or people whose teeth are more yellow than the grey aging look that teeth sometimes take on. Professional whitening with a custom tray is by far the best, most controlled and cost effective way to whiten teeth. It may cost more initially, but with all the touch-ups done over the course of years, this way is a proven winner.

Other people may need orthodontics to straighten things out to make their smile more attractive. And then there is the group that need a little more help. These individuals may benefit from bonding, porcelain veneers or crowns. Even replacing old front fillings or re-shaping teeth can make a significant difference.

Let’s not forget those without teeth. Denture teeth are typically made of plastic. They stain and wear faster than natural teeth. Newer advances in denture teeth construction can produce smiles that are hard to tell from real. There is no reason a person with dentures should look like a person with dentures. There are many different qualities to teeth – get the good ones! A $300 denture at a chain dental office will look like a $300 denture. Better yet, consider dental implants.

Many dentists offer smile simulations. They take a picture of you smiling do a digital smile makeover. In all the times I have done this, I have never had one person say they liked their original picture better. It is truly amazing the effect that teeth can have on your overall appearance.

Being confident and happy about the way your smile looks is important. If there is something you do not like about the way your teeth look, talk to your dentist or dental hygienist about your options.

Dr. St. Clair maintains a private dental practice in Rowley and Newburyport dedicated to health-centered family dentistry. If there are certain topics you would like to see written about or questions you have please email them to him at jpstclair@stclairdmd.com. You can view all previously written columns at www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com/blog.