When first meeting someone, or meeting someone we have met a thousand times, we look into their eyes and at their face. Humor or positive stories often come up and we smile. The teeth in our smile is the next most common part of our face that people notice when interacting with us. It’s what makes people say “you have a nice smile” or “you have a little something in your teeth.”
Many people grin instead of smiling or smile with the occasional realization that their teeth are imperfect. A realization that:
- Teeth are yellowing from food, coffee, wine, or cigarettes.
- One or more teeth are crooked or protruding.
- There is a cracked or missing tooth showing in their smile.
- A gummy smile is obvious from smaller teeth and more gum tissue showing.
- Other smile concerns that make people self-conscious.
Correcting concerns over a smile is not always cosmetic. Often, fixing teeth problems is better for the health. Some examples:
– Misaligned or missing teeth can lead to teeth shifting leading to a chewing imbalance causing jaw degradation and pain over time. It can also mean that certain teeth aren’t being cleaned properly or are doing more work than others leading to problems.
– Cracked teeth and gum recession can lead to gum disease and rapid degrading of tooth surfaces.
– Discoloration or staining of the teeth can indicate a lack of oral hygiene, more porous teeth with a greater likelihood of problems, or gum disease.
The list can go on and with great detail. Bottom line, there may or may not be dental health implications from smile concerns. This being said, the pursuit of corrective treatments can mean more than a cosmetic fix.
There are also the psychological benefits of having an improved smile. Studies have been conducted about the impact of smiles in human behavior on their own and when interaction with others. Having confidence in showing your smile and showing a cleaner, healthier smile has connections with increased self-confidence, improved socialization, and better outcomes from first-time interactions.
There are several treatments out there to improve your teeth and smile. Before choosing a firm direction on a treatment it is best to talk to a dentist who performs cosmetic treatments. A dentist who performs both traditional dentistry and cosmetic dentistry is best because they can evaluate both the health and esthetic aspects of your teeth, providing a complete opinion.
During a consultation you can ask any questions and be informed about treatments available to you. From there, you can make an informed decision.
If you would like to have a consultation with Dr. Stefanie Shore about improving your smile, call her office at 916-000-000. There is no cost for a consultation, only if you choose treatments and associated evaluation tests, such as x-rays.