More often than not, a smile is the first thing that people notice when they meet you. This is why many people seek out a smile makeover to fix any minor or significant cosmetic issues.
There are a wide variety of scenarios in which the importance of a beautiful smile is significant. This includes first dates, job interviews, introductions, and just about any other social situation you can think of.
Why Is A Beautiful Smile Important?
These are just a few reasons why people consider having a beautiful smile important:
You’ll Make A Great First Impression
If your teeth are whiter, straighter, and more aligned, you will make a better first impression on a new person, whether it is in a professional or social context. Someone who doesn’t smile because they’re embarrassed with their teeth may come off as rude and arrogant.
According to a survey conducted by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), 48% of adults find a smile “the most memorable feature” in someone after they meet them. They especially highlight the importance of this in the age of digital media, where everything is very fast-paced.
How you’re perceived on social media can depend on your smile. Rather than having a more “severe” facial expression, you’d notice that a lot of the people are smiling in their social media pictures, which only adds to their professional appeal.
You’ll Look More Successful
It’s hard to think of a person who’s quite successful but has bad teeth. This is because a lot of people invest in their smiles either in order to become successful or look successful. A survey conducted by Longevita found that a smile significantly impacts the perception of wealth.
For instance, before her smile makeover, the Duchess of Sussex – Meghan Markle – had diastema (a gap between her teeth). Those who were only shown her teeth said that she must be someone who earned less than £30,000 a year.
However, when just her teeth were shown after the smile makeover, people said that she seemed like someone who’d earn more than £70,000 a year. Research has also shown that people with attractive smiles are perceived as more successful, intelligent, and even friendly.
You’ll Look & Feel More Confident
People who find their teeth unattractive try to hide them whenever possible. Many people cover their mouths when laughing or smiling for this reason (other than some cultural ones).
The AACD survey mentioned above also found that people who don’t have a beautiful smile are thought to be less confident and even less attractive. That’s how they’re perceived by others. But their self-perception is also affected if their teeth are misaligned, missing, damaged or discoloured.
According to a study published in The Journal of Indian Prosthodontic Society, those who perceive their smiles to be attractive are more likely to “show their teeth” and even “liked to see their teeth in mirror, photographs and video.” The researchers also found that the colour of the teeth was a major source of dissatisfaction among participants. So, in general, if you have a beautiful smile, you’d like to flaunt it and be more confident about it than others.
You’ll Have A More Fulfilling Life
Research shows that smiling affects your social life. You are more likely to appear friendly. Also, conversations with people who smile are thought to be more rewarding. This is in addition to the benefit of people with beautiful smiles being perceived as more physically attractive.
Interestingly enough, studies have also indicated that you’re likely to live longer and have a successful marriage if you smile more. Another way that smiling can give you a more fulfilling life is that it can help reduce stress and elevate your mood. That’s because our brain releases certain neurotransmitters when we smile. These can have health benefits for us.
You’ll Look More Attractive
A beautiful smile can make you look more attractive. And it’s true that you’d come off as more trustworthy and genuine than someone whose teeth are misaligned or discoloured. People who’re smiling in their online dating profiles also tend to be more successful in finding a romantic partner.
Having an angry, disgusted, or grimacing expression is likely to make you less attractive in the eyes of other people. However, if you top it off with bad teeth, it’s going to leave a lasting bad impression of your facial attractiveness.
You’ll Be More Motivated To Maintain Your Oral Hygiene
If you’ve recently had a smile makeover, you’d be quite motivated to maintain the results of the procedure. If it was teeth whitening, you’d want your teeth to remain white for as long as possible. That acts as a motivating factor for many people to maintain their oral hygiene. It’s like getting a fresh start.
That would mean you’ll brush your teeth with the right technique for two minutes two times a day. Make sure to floss and use mouthwash, as these things can help you maintain that beautiful smile that you’ve just achieved.
What Is A Smile Makeover?
The term smile makeover refers to a combination of dental procedures aimed at improving the aesthetics of the smile as well as its overall function. They are tailored to each individual patient’s specific needs. Many people invest in their smiles for different reasons. Usually, a smile makeover involves the following procedures:
Orthodontics
Orthodontic treatments take a more conservative approach to realign the teeth if there is malocclusion. Typically, metal braces are used for orthodontic treatment. However, other dental appliances are also used like: Invisalign, palate expanders, retainers, coil springs, etc. These treatments take the longest to show results, as many as 2 years or even more.
Teeth Whitening
One of the most common reasons that people seek a smile makeover is that they’re dissatisfied with the discolouration of their teeth. Using an acid, an in-office teeth whitening can get rid of extrinsic and even some intrinsic stains that are hard to get rid of at home. The key to a beautiful smile is whiter teeth.
Composite Bonding
If you have minor chips, gaps, cracks, or discolouration, composite bonding can effectively give you a smile makeover. A tooth-coloured composite resin material is moulded over the teeth and bonded to hide any cosmetic imperfections.
Dental Veneers
If you have relatively bigger dental aesthetic problems, you’d need more coverage, and that can be provided by dental veneers. They are quite popular in a smile makeover. Essentially, the original tooth is hidden behind a wafer-thin laminate that resembles the appearance of the natural tooth. It is ideal for those with crooked front teeth that are either misaligned or damaged.
Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are usually recommended for those patients whose existing natural teeth are badly damaged, injured or discoloured. If the tooth is too yellow and a veneer is placed on top of it, the underlying colour will show through, which will negatively impact the final results.
To place the crowns, the dentist shaves the underlying tooth and places a dental cap on top. This procedure can reshape and resize misaligned teeth to give you a more beautiful smile.
What Can You Expect At Your Smile Makeover Consultation?
Dentists use dental X-rays to assess your oral health. Additionally, they will go over your medical history to determine the best treatment option for your smile makeover. In the first consultation session, the dentist will only view your images to make an assessment.
Once you come to the clinic, a face-to-face assessment will be performed. Here, there’s a small chance that your treatment plan may change. This is because of the nature of medical tourism; it relies on photographs for making an initial assessment. It is possible that you end up needing more or fewer crowns/veneers.
To address other aesthetic concerns, your dentist might also recommend additional treatments. For instance, if you want to fix a “gummy smile,“ you may benefit from a gingivectomy. Depending on the type of procedure, you may need 2-3 follow-up appointments. Following the smile makeover procedure, you will be provided with aftercare instructions.
How Much Does A Smile Makeover Cost?
The cost of the smile makeover will depend on the kind of treatment you’re getting. It’s not about going for the cheapest option. You’ll be recommended a treatment based on the condition of your teeth and your needs and expectations.
Of all the smile makeover procedures, teeth whitening is the cheapest, followed by composite bonding, veneers, and then dental crowns. Even within them, prices can vary depending on the material of the dental restoration and the treatment area.
Concluding Remarks
Many people don’t feel confident in their appearance because of issues with the alignment of the teeth or their discolouration. It can directly impact their professional and personal lives. Essentially, their own teeth are coming in the way of their happiness. However, a simple smile makeover can dramatically alter your appearance.
One or more cosmetic dental procedures can effectively address these issues. Make sure to get in touch with a dentist to discuss your problems. They’ll recommend a suitable treatment accordingly.