Why Choose a Smile Makeover?
There are many reasons why your teeth and smile are important. When you feel good about yourself, you naturally want to smile. When you have a healthy smile to show the world, you feel self-confident and you are happy to let the world know it. Trading a set of unhealthy or discolored teeth in for a set of nice, healthy white teeth makes a lot of sense when you understand exactly how your smile can positively affect life.
Achieving a beautiful smile with a smile makeover can improve your self-confidence and make you feel better about smiling in public. |
If your teeth are stained, crooked, decaying or just have an unhealthy appearance, investing in a smile makeover can be one of the best decisions you ever make.
Why Are More People Choosing Smile Makeovers Today?
In a recent study conducted by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), 99.7% — that’s practically 100%! — of American adults admitted they feel like a smile is an important social asset. In addition, 74% of those people feel that an unattractive smile can harm chances of success in the work place. The AACD also found that since 2006, the number of dental procedures that are generally associated with smile makeovers have risen in staggering amounts. In fact, the number of teeth whitening procedures has risen by 300%, while porcelain veneer procedures jumped by 250%.
So, why have so many people decided that now is the right time to invest in a smile makeover?
1. Access to New Dental Procedures
Living in an age of information that is fueled by the Internet and media, people have become more aware of the new dental technology and procedures available to them. Television shows that revolve around extreme makeovers have raised the awareness of many viewers, showing exactly what the finished product of a smile makeover looks like.
In addition, many people watch their favorite celebrities and want to look like them. Did you know that many celebs need dental procedures to achieve that perfect Hollywood smile? It’s true – they’re not just born with perfect white teeth -they have smile “issues” just like you. In fact, many people choose to take a picture of their favorite celebrity into their dentist and find out how to get their own smile makeover with similar results.
Maybe you’ve been wondering what a dentist can do for your smile. Imagine how helpful it would be to actually watch someone else on television go through a dental procedure you have always been curious about. In essence, people are beginning to realize that you do not have to be an A-list celebrity to have a great smile – everyone deserves a smile they can be proud of.
2. Most People Are Not Happy With Their Smiles
According to a recent study, the majority of people are not happy with the way their smile looks and they want to improve aesthetics. A study performed by The School of Dental Sciences in Malaysia assessed 235 patients who visited the dental clinic. Out of the test subjects, over 52% were not happy with the general appearance of their own smile. Specifically:
- 56% were unhappy with the color of their teeth
- 32% thought their teeth were poorly aligned
- 26% felt their teeth were crowded
- 23% felt their teeth protruded too far
Researchers also found that a higher number of females were generally unhappy with their dental appearance in addition to being unsatisfied with their tooth color. It was also noted that unhappiness with tooth color and dissatisfaction with protruding teeth had a significant negative impact on the way the subjects felt about their appearance. If you recognize any of these factors, or others, in your own smile, the good news is that help is widely available!
How a Smile Makeover Can Improve Your Life
A recent study conducted in Norway set out to discover if oral health really matters in daily life. They wanted to find out exactly how healthy or unhealthy smiles affected life within a group of 35- to 47-year-old participants. Surprisingly, oral health was found to influence chewing, biting, eating, smiling, laughing, feeling comfortable and personal appearance. Only 1% of the test subjects reported they felt no influence from oral health. Individuals with less than two decayed teeth and individuals who were satisfied with their smiles reported feeling positive effects in overall quality of life. In essence, the study confirms that your smile and oral health affects far more than just the way you chew your food! In fact, some of those effects may even surprise you!
For example, around one-third of Americans aged 18 to 50 would refuse to kiss someone with bad teeth, according to a poll conducted by Harris Interactive. Bad teeth can often be associated with poor oral health, low self-esteem and poor appearance. On the other hand, a bright healthy smile is associated with beauty and youth.
According to the Academy of General Dentistry, people who neglect their teeth are 32 times more likely to have a significant other who also neglects their teeth. People with no visible dental neglect are over five times more likely to have a partner with a healthy smile as well. Is it surprising that smile makeovers are becoming common services provided by dentists today?
Improving First Impressions
You only get one chance to make a first impression. That impression will hopefully include your smile, as a genuine smile is infectious; it will draw people to you naturally. Of course, one of the first things that people notice about you when you smile is how your teeth look …
Nonverbal cues influence first impressions up to four times more than verbal cues. A smile is seen as an invitation or a sign of welcome to others. Therefore, a healthy and bright smile says, “I’m friendly and can be approached easily.” When you greet someone with a great smile, it makes for a positive first impression.
Career Improvements
Studies have shown that polished job applicants have starting salaries that are up to 20% higher than those with the same qualifications, but with low self-esteem and no confidence in their appearance. This gives the term “million-dollar smile” a literal definition! In fact, a study released by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis found that people who are more confident and attractive earn 5% more per hour than less confident or less attractive workers. If your smile is bright and genuine, you probably exude confidence and cheer. This makes you seem easily approachable and, therefore, pleasant for business interactions.
In addition to business interactions, your smile can play a major role in the interview process as well. When you meet a potential employer for the first time, his or her brain instantly makes a thousand computations at high speeds. In business and interviews, first impressions are crucial. While you cannot determine the decisions someone makes, having a healthy and bright smile can make them work to your advantage!
Improving Facial Features
According to a study done by the Department of Dental Health and Biological Sciences in Wales, various factors that may affect facial attractiveness were examined. Sixty subjects from ages 11 to 31 years of age were asked to examine photographs of people smiling and not smiling. They were to evaluate overall facial attractiveness and the attractiveness of various facial features. The results showed that smiling made women look more attractive, while also increasing a youthful facial appearance.
Increasing the Fullness of Lips and Reducing Wrinkles
While there are many people who get a smile makeover to improve their dental appearance, you may not know that the application of dental veneers can also enhance the fullness of your lips and reduce wrinkles. Porcelain veneers are a common smile makeover procedure performed by adhering a thin wafer of porcelain to the surface of a tooth. The added thickness of the veneer pushes out the natural lip curve, creates a more rounded, supple shape and reduces wrinkles at the corners of the mouth. You are able to experience luscious lips without having to undergo plastic surgery or endure frequent lip-plumping injections! According to a survey commissioned by the AAACD, over 599,000 veneer procedures are performed each year, making it the third most popular cosmetic dentistry procedure.
There are many options today to choose from for whitening and repairing teeth, which keep them looking healthy and natural – an automatic confidence builder! |
What Kind of Smile Makeover is Right for You?
Because everyone has a unique smile, no smile makeover is exactly alike. Only after a dental consultation can you decide upon the best plan of action. The process of a smile makeover may include:
- Teeth whitening
- Porcelain veneers
- Crowns
- Orthodontics
- Oral surgery
- Gum re-contouring
Your personalized smile makeover must also take into consideration your facial structure, skin tone, hair color, existing teeth, gum tissue, and lips in order for your dentist to develop the right plan for your best smile.
If you find yourself lacking the confidence to smile or open your mouth in front of others because of discolored or damaged teeth, you could benefit from a smile makeover. Your dentist can help to give you that beautiful and confidence-boosting smile you have always wanted. A bright healthy smile can help to turn back the clock and take years off your appearance. If you want to be able to smile with confidence, make an appointment today to discuss all your best options including what best fits your needs time-wise and budget-wise.
Sources
Indian Journal of Dental Research, 20(2):195-200.
International Journal of Dental Hygiene, 10: 15–21. doi: 10.1111/j.1601-5037.2011.00533.x
Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop;127(6):676-82 755.
American Dental Association Smile Makeover