The other day I read an interesting independent study that really points out the importance of a smile.  The study was performed for the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and looked at things people considered important in a smile.  Most of the results are things you already know, but the numbers associated with the survey are worthy of note.

 Does a smile really matter?  Virtually all Americans (99.7%) believe your smile is an important social asset, while 96% of adults believe an attractive smile makes a person more appealing to the opposite sex.  A large majority of adults (74%) feel an unattractive smile can hurt a person’s chances for career success.  Being a dentist has allowed me the opportunity to see how an unattractive smile can negatively affect not only person’s career, but their health, self-esteem and overall well-being.  I have also seen how enhancing the beauty of a person’s smile can greatly influence their outlook on life.

Three other questions were asked on the survey.  

• When asked, “What is the first thing you notice in a person’s smile?”  the most common responses were:
• Straightness
• Whiteness and Color of Teeth
• Cleanliness of Teeth
• Sincerity of the Smile
• Any missing teeth
• Sparkle of the Smile
• When asked, “What types of things do you consider make a smile unattractive?”
• Discolored, Yellow or Stained Teeth
• Missing Teeth
• Crooked Teeth
• Decaying Teeth and Cavities
• Gaps and Spaces in Teeth
• Dirty Teeth
• And finally when asked, “What would you most like to improve about your smile?”
• Whiter and Brighter Teeth

No big surprises here on what people thought made a good/bad smile, but the percentages of Americans who see the importance of a smile is what surprised me, especially if you consider only half the population visits the dentist on a regular basis! 

The good news is that cosmetic dentistry can provide answers for anyone looking to improve their smile.  It is absolutely incredible what we can do today in designing, sculpting and creating each patient’s individual beautiful smile.  One of my greatest rewards in dentistry (as I am sure it is for others) has been the opportunity to see how creating a beautiful smile for so many patients has transformed their levels of self-confidence, enhanced opportunities in their careers and yes influenced the romance in their lives!  If you think you, or someone you know are interested in what cosmetic dentistry can do, contact your dentist for a cosmetic evaluation.