“She has a gorgeous smile.”
“His smile is amazing. He seems so friendly.”
Our smiles affect how we present ourselves to other people, and fair or not, they also affect other people’s perceptions of us. That can make a difference whether you are meeting someone for a romantic night out, for a job interview, or for business lunch with a prospective client.
If your teeth are crooked, crowded, or misaligned in any way, you may feel self-conscious about letting other people see your teeth. Our team at Advanced Dental Center of Florence, SC can help you address those alignment problems so you can feel more relaxed in social, personal, and professional settings.
With our aligner options, people may say you are the friendly person with the beautiful smile. To find out more about what a straight smile could do for you, call (843) 588-1919 for an appointment or keep reading.
The Social Benefits of a Great Smile
Let’s start by acknowledging the primary reason most people want to straighten their teeth: they want a nice smile.
That’s something that everyone can understand. We all want to look nice, even if different people define that in different ways. It’s why we get our haircut the way we do. It’s why we wear the clothes that we wear.
As different as those things are, most people agree that smiles look better when:
- Teeth are parallel to one another
- Teeth are evenly spaces without crowding or large gaps between teeth
- Our top and bottom rows of teeth are in line with one another
These traits (along with white teeth) are what make up the “Hollywood” smile that many people would love to have. It’s worth pointing out that most of the people with that Hollywood smile needed some work to create it.
Having an attractive smile has multiple social benefits. First and foremost, it can improve your own self-confidence. When you are happy with your smile, you are more willing to let it show.
And showing your smile can have a positive effect on the people around you as well. In surveys, people with “pretty” teeth have been described as friendly, intelligent, successful, and trustworthy.
Surveys also show that our smiles (or lack thereof) are the thing that people are most likely to remember after meeting someone for the first time. Fair or not, this means your mouth makes more of an impression in many cases than what you actually say when you are introduced to someone.
The Health Benefits of Straight Teeth
We can’t discuss dental services without mentioning their oral health benefits. This is something that many people who are on the fence about teeth straightening treatments don’t consider.
We know that people want to straighten their teeth because it improves their smiles. It a real sense, improving the form (the alignment) of your teeth will improve their function as well.
When your teeth don’t overlap each other, you have fewer places for bacteria to hide from your toothbrush or dental floss. That means you can do an even better job of cleaning your teeth during your daily hygiene routine.
You still need to brush and floss, but when you do, it will be more effective at removing plaque and food particles. This also helps our dental professionals as well when you come in for your routine cleanings and exams. In short, you’ll have a better chance of preventing cavities and gum disease if you have straight teeth and have good oral hygiene habits.
Straightening your teeth also can correct what we call a malocclusion, or “bad bite.” This includes crossbites, open bites, overbites, and underbites. This can cause wear and tear that damages the enamel of your teeth.
When your teeth are misaligned in this way, you also may be more prone to biting the inside of your mouth. This can lead to sores and ulcers on the inside of your mouth, which is everyone would rather avoid.
Introducing Dr. Visel
Since we are discussing aligners, this also is a good opportunity to remind you that we recently welcomed a new dentist, Dr. Daniel Visel, to our practice.
Dr. Visel previously owned his own practice in a small town in Illinois. He comes to us with a wide range of skills in all aspects of dentistry including certifications in sleep apnea and TMJ treatments. He enjoys straightening teeth with clear aligners.
As our long-term patients know, our practice is about more than just treating your mouth. We see each and every patient as an individual, and we work diligently to provide compassionate and personal care.
Dr. Visel adds to the heart and the genuine concern we have for all our patients. In addition to his professional career, he has participated in 10 dental mission trips to Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
Options for Getting Your Teeth in Line
Most patients who straighten their teeth are still teenagers, although adult options have become more and more popular. In fact, health experts estimate that 1 in 5 patients seeking treatment to straighten teeth is an adult.
It’s important to note that you’re never too old to correct your teeth alignment. If you want straighter teeth, one of our aligner options can help.
Invisalign is different from traditional straightening methods. Instead of brackets and wires, it uses a sequence of custom-created clear aligners. Since they are transparent, they blend in with your smile when they are placed over your teeth.
We offer several Invisalign options: Invisalign, Invisalign Teen, Invisalign Lite, and Invisalign Express.
The Path to Your New Smile Starts Here
If you are considering straightening your teeth or the teeth of one of your children, we welcome you to schedule an appointment at Advanced Dental Care. Dr. Visel or another member of our team will be happy to examine your mouth and jaw and provide an assessment of what options could work in your situation. As always, we will be happy to answer any questions that you may have, too.
Call (843) 588-1919 today or contact us online to get started on your new and improved smile!