IF A GREAT SMILE = SUCCESS THEN WHY AREN’T MORE PEOPLE INVESTING IN IT?

Most people are unaware of what their smile says about them. However, simple dental changes can have a lasting effect on your confidence and happiness. If this is really the case, then you might be wondering why more people don’t take the time to care for their smiles? It’s obvious that most people are frustrated about their smiles. In our world, your appearance means a lot. Especially, within the ever-changing work force. Since, employee turn over is very high and companies are constantly changing their management teams you’ll have to consistently make a good impression. When it comes to good first impressions your smile communicates a lot. Even with this knowledge a lot of people don’t do what it takes to improve their smile – and the reasons might actually surprise you.

PEOPLE ARE GENERALLY AFRAID OF THE DENTIST

The fear people have of the dentist usually starts when they’re young. By the time they’re adults this subtle fear can even progress into a full blown phobia. This fear can usually cause people to avoid dental treatments for years, and is one of the main reasons people forgo taking care of their smile, or take active steps to fix their smile. Below you’ll find some of the main reasons people are afraid to sit down in the dentist’s chair.

1. THE SHARP NEEDLES AND TOOLS

Fear of needles is already a huge fear for most people. Coupling this fear of needles with a dentist visit makes most people run in the opposite direction. A lot of dental anesthetics are delivered via needle, especially for invasive dental procedures. However, the slight pain that comes from the prick of a needle is much less than the pain you would feel without the anesthetic to begin with. However, a lot of procedures being done today can be done without the use of needles. Especially, with the usage of topical anesthetics and sedation. If you have a debilitating fear of needles perhaps it’s time to put your fear in check. After all, your career and confidence may depend upon it.

2. THE PAIN, OR CHANCE OF PAIN

Everyone hates pain. In fact most of us do whatever is possible to minimize any encounter with a painful situation. If you’ve felt dental pain in the past, then you know that it tops the list. Your teeth and gums are very sensitive parts of your body, and are the exact reason dental procedures can be so painful. However, with proper pain management the pain you may encounter can be greatly minimized.

3. THE DRILL AND ASSOCIATED SOUNDS

Just the thought of a dental drill can keep a lot of people up at night. The noise, the vibration, the smell. However, newer models of drills can actually help make your dental experience pleasant — the vibration and noise have been greatly reduced in recent years. There are also other options if you find the drill intolerable. For instance, there is sedation and the ability to use headphones or earplugs.

4. THE COST OR PROCEDURES

The cost of a dental procedure can be a huge deal breaker. However, when you think of the cost to have lasting confidence and a smile that makes you feel proud, the overall cost starts to look a little more reasonable. Often, we’ll splurge to buy a nice car, however, if we don’t invest in our smile we won’t be able to flash a smile on par with our new vehicle. You may not want to spend money on your dental health. However, when you think of everything a beautiful smile can bring into your life, a better career, increased confidence, and better relationships. The costs may suddenly begin to feel worthwhile.

5. THE BAD CHILDHOOD MEMORIES

I’m sure most people have had a traumatic childhood experience. It’s a tough thing to let go of, however, dental practices and procedures have continued to get better with time. This means a visit to the dentist today will be a much better experience than any traumatic experience you had to endure as a child.

TEETH WHITENING GETS A BAD WRAP

When it comes to whitening your teeth a lot of people would rather be caught dead than admit they need to get their teeth whitened. However, how many times have you been captivated or secretly jealous of a glowing white smile? Whitening procedures and do-it-yourself kits are becoming much easier to implement. The simplicity and ease of these treatments make it easy for you to reap the benefits of having white teeth. For instance, white teeth instantly make you look younger, they also help to brighten up the conversation. If you don’t have a perfectly straight smile the least you can do to bolster their appearance is to ensure your teeth are a beautiful white color. Often, people will become attracted to your white teeth, even if they aren’t perfectly straight. After all, when your teeth aren’t white it’s easy to want to hide them. However, if you have a glowing white smile you bet you’re going to want to show them off.

TOOTH LOSS IS A DIFFICULT TOPIC TO GRASP

Losing teeth can not only be painful, but it can be embarrassing. Often, it’s difficult to come to terms with tooth loss. Especially, if you’re younger. It can be difficult to even take the time out of your regular schedule to swing by the dentist for an appointment. However, when you have a full smile, free of gaps from missing teeth you’ll notice a surge in your confidence. No longer will you be afraid to show off your beautiful smile, once you get your smile fixed. As we mentioned earlier, people have tremendous fears of going to the dentist, and usually this fear is heightened when it comes to more invasive procedures. The cost can also be a large deterrent. However, when you compare the one time monetary cost to the amount of happiness having a full smile will bring into your life, it seems that the costs would be negligible. There are several options when it comes to dealing with tooth loss. The most common options are veneers, bridges, implants, dentures and partials. Below we’ll dive into each of these individually. 1. Veneers Dental veneers are made out of porcelain and are thin shells that are used to cover the front of your tooth in order to improve it’s appearance. These custom shells are bonded to your tooth or teeth and can change their size, shape or overall appearance. Veneers are usually composed out of a composite resin, or porcelain. Porcelain veneers usually have better stain resistant properties. Veneers are usually used to fix the following issues: discolored teeth, worn down teeth, teeth that are chipped or broken, uneven or misshapen teeth, or teeth with gaps in between them. 2. Bridges Dental bridges are non removable prosthesis that are attached to remaining teeth. You have a false tooth or several teeth that are joined to bridge the gap between the natural teeth you still have. Often, the teeth on either side of the bridge will be filed down in order to accept the bridge. Bridges come in a variety of materials, but are often composed of porcelain, gold, or porcelain fused to metal. 3. Implants Dental implants utilize a series of procedures to actually replace the missing tooth. The crucial part of the implant is the titanium socket which sits in the original bone pocket of the missing tooth. The titanium actually ends up forming a bond with the bone over time, making it a great replacement for a lost tooth. The implant or implants are then capped with a crown usually made of porcelain. 4. Dentures Dentures are essentially a removable replacement for missing teeth. There are two main types of dentures — partial and complete. If you’re younger then you’ll probably be looking for partial dentures, as complete dentures are used when all the teeth are missing. Partial dentures work great in that they help to keep the remaining teeth in place. A removable partial denture consists of replacement teeth that are fused to a gum-colored plastic base. A partial denture will have a metal framework or if you’re looking for a more natural looking solution then clasps can be used.

CROOKED TEETH CAN BE EMBARRASSING

When you have crooked teeth it can be embarrassing, knowing that people are looking at your teeth instead of paying attention to you. There are several affordable options when it comes to taking care of your crooked smile.Depending on the state of your teeth and how much work they need you’ll have a few options to choose from. The most common form of teeth alignment are braces. Braces have been around for a long time, and are very common today. Some people believe they are too old for braces, however, you’ll usually only need to get braces for a year or two and you’ll have a beautiful smile for the rest of your life. Another common option is Invisalign. If you’re too self-conscious for braces, or your teeth don’t require too much straightening then Invisalign might be a good option for you. Invisalign acts as an invisible retainer that slowly straightens your teeth over time. You receive a set of retainers that progressively straighten your smile. The last option is getting a regular retainer. This is similar to the Invisalign option above, however most retainers are more noticeable than the clear plastic of Invisalign. When you’re uncomfortable with your smile people can tell. Especially, if you’re self-conscious about revealing your teeth in public. It’s time to take pride in your smile. A beautiful smile can bring so much into your life, however, it’s up to you to take your smile into your own hands.