“Try your best to make goodness attractive. That’s one of the toughest assignments you’ll ever be given.”
– Mister Rogers
A beautiful human being isn’t necessarily attractive in any physical sense. You will ultimately be remembered for the warmth of your heart and little else. That said, everyone would like to have a beautiful smile – and thanks to cosmetic dentistry, anyone can.
Cosmetic dentistry isn’t concerned with making your teeth healthier or improving their functionality. It is solely about improving the aesthetics of your smile. But as you will soon see, an attractive smile can have a profound impact on your overall well-being as well.
A study conducted for the American Association of Orthodontists in 2012 demonstrated just how greatly Americans’ perceptions of their smiles affects their self-esteem.
- 14% of people believe their smile has held them back professionally.
- 22% of people who dislike their teeth believe a better smile would improve their love life.
- 36% of people believe their social life would improve if they had better teeth.
- 48% of people aged 18 to 24 have untagged themself from a Facebook photo because they didn’t care for their smile.
- 77% of women believe crooked teeth are worse than a receding hairline in a potential romantic partner.
- 78% of people believe adults with crooked teeth to be unsuccessful.
Whether the people surveyed were correct or not is irrelevant. From their responses, we can safely conclude that people who believe their smiles to be unattractive also suffer from poor self-esteem.
Unfortunately, those who have lower confidence in their own worth or abilities are at higher risk of experiencing a wide range of social problems and mental disorders including depression, anxiety, and even substance abuse. But we wouldn’t like to suggest that crooked teeth can lead to serious mental health conditions. We would only like to point out the several ways in which cosmetic dentistry can improve your self-esteem.
Cosmetic Dentistry Can Improve Your Social Life
According to a recent study conducted on behalf of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), 48% of Americans believe that someone else’s smile is their most memorable feature while making a first impression. In contrast, only 25% of those surveyed believed that the first thing someone says is more important during an initial meeting.
Can you rely on your smile alone to make a great first impression? We wouldn’t recommend it, but it’s plain to see just how greatly your smile will influence others’ opinions of you.
Cosmetic Dentistry Can Make You More Attractive
According to the same AACD study, 37% of Americans believe people with stained or crooked teeth are less attractive than those who have perfect teeth. 40% of women and 35% of men surveyed said people with imperfect smiles are less appealing.
Another study conducted on behalf of Invisalign showed that people with straight teeth are 57% more likely to match with partners on dating sites based on their photos alone. It also showed that 38% of people would not consider going on a second date with someone who has misaligned teeth.
And the associations people make between another person and their smile are more than skin-deep: When someone has straight teeth, they are 38% more likely to be perceived as smart and 47% more likely to be seen as healthy!
Cosmetic Dentistry Can Make You More Successful
The Invisalign study repeatedly underscores how an attractive smile can help someone to become more successful. People with straight teeth were seen as 58% more likely to experience success, and just as likely to be wealthy.
Respondents believed someone with straight teeth has a 45% greater chance of getting a job than a competitor with crooked teeth but otherwise identical qualifications. 73% of respondents also said they were more likely to trust someone with a nice smile than if they only had a good job, car or clothing.
To be certain, a perfect smile only better qualifies someone to do acting or modeling work. But as we all know, others’ perceptions of your abilities can have a dramatic impact on the opportunities you are given to excel!
Cosmetic Dentistry Can Help Your Recover From an Injury
Oral injuries are quite common. According to the University of Alabama, more than five million teeth are avulsed every single year. There were more than two million dental-related emergency room visits in 2018 alone. Recovery from the majority of these injuries simply isn’t possible without dental implants, dentures, or some other type of cosmetic dental treatment.
Would you like to improve your self-esteem with the aid of a cosmetic dentist in St. Cloud, Minnesota? Then we welcome you to contact Centrasota Dental today to schedule a consultation! Dr. Congdon and his team are always available to help you feel more confident with your appearance – and start enjoying all the social benefits that come with a perfect smile!
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