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The Positive Power of a Really Great Smile
Quick Guide In A Nutshell
It’s been quite a journey. You were looking for answers and possibly some insight into treating yourself to a great smile.
In her book Beauty Bias: Discrimination and Social Power, Bonnie Berry states: “This book is about bias. All societies exhibit bias, based on a variety of their populations’ traits such as race, gender, age, economic resources, and physical ability. This book is about those traditional biases as well as the social inequality centered on physical appearance. Physical features such as skin color, hair texture, height, weight, eye shape, disabilities and deformities, condition of the teeth, evidence of aging, and “beauty” are important markers for biased treatment. Those of us with the “wrong” features, per social-wide agreement, are subject to several forms of bias.”
Some of these traits are beyond your control, such as race, age, height, hair texture, and physical disabilities. But others are well within your control, like the appearance of your teeth, your weight, your hair style and color, glasses or contacts, or even removing your wrinkles. Of these, some will take more effort than others. Some will require surgery. One of the easiest traits to improve is the appearance of your teeth. Although it will take some effort on your part, most of it can be delegated to your cosmetic dentist, and your responsibility will be to be on time for your appointments and to maintain your new great smile.
People with a great smile are thought to be
than those with an average or poor smile.
Perceptions may not be accurate, but they are powerful. If someone has a belief system already in place, when they are confronted by someone with a physical trait that registers “positive” on their rating scale, there is a greater chance of accurate communication. The opposite is also true. When confronted with a “negative” trait, communication suffers. It’s not hopeless, but it will take a greater effort. Most of us want to make life “easier,” not “harder.” Examples throughout this book and other books have shown that a great smile will help tear down barriers.
Understanding just how lightening fast our subconscious mind evaluates, then judges, is a very important detail.
Thoughts race through your subconscious mind twenty four hours a day. Your conscious mind is more powerful than your subconscious, but your subconscious never goes to sleep. It’s working all the time. With effort, you can learn to train your subconscious over time. The problem is even if you train your mind not to judge by appearances, the rest of the world still does. That’s why it’s important to know what others are subconsciously evaluating. It gives you the advantage.
The effects of having an improved self-image and self-esteem will not only help your mental health but your physical health as well. Much of your physical health is determined by your mental state. Much of your mental state is determined by your self-talk. Much of your self-talk is determined by your self-image. Your self-image is affected by your appearance. A large part of your appearance is in your smile. It stands to reason that if you follow the links, you can help improve your physical health by having a smile you’re proud of.
Self-Esteem and Confidence are very important for a healthy life. True self-esteem values itself and says I can do it. I have what it takes. I can make my life what I want it to be. There isn’t anyone with too much self-esteem. Nothing builds confidence like success. Success can be found in many areas of our lives. It could be losing a few pounds, making a good grade on a test, finishing a job before the deadline, or improving your smile. When you feel good about an accomplishment, it lays down one more building block reinforcing your confidence. Feeling good about your smile is just one more barrier you don’t have to hurdle every day. One less thing to focus on. One less thing to hide. The negative emotion created by consciously hiding your teeth when you smile is released and replaced by confidence, a positive emotion, which releases more of your true potential. When you’re not hiding, you can accomplish a lot more!
You don’t get a second chance to make a good first impression! Despite professed ideals, people do judge people by their appearance. We form instantaneous judgments, whether accurate or not, that determine to what extent we listen to, believe, are skeptical of, consider, doubt or trust what a person says, based solely on their appearance. These are only initial judgments and will be modified as we get to know this person, if we choose to get to know them better. If your appearance doesn’t capture a person’s attention, then your mind won’t get much of a chance. “I’m attracted to attractive people,” says one business owner.
Attractive people:
An independent study conducted on behalf of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry found that:
99.7% of Americans believe a smile is an important social asset. 96% of adults believe an attractive smile makes a person more engaging to members of the opposite sex. 74% of adults believe an unattractive smile can lessen a person’s chances for career success. 88% say they remember someone with an attractive smile. Only Half of Americans are satisfied with their smile.
Many other independent studies worldwide confirm these findings. A smile is universal. Every country views a great smile in a positive way.
We discussed your procrastination over such an important decision. There are many “reasons” you may have chosen in the past not to improve your smile, even though you wanted to. Some reasons were valid. Other reasons were truly excuses. The worst person you could ever lie to is yourself. Looking at the Cost of Delay, you realized that not only is it measured in the increasing fees for the dentistry itself, but it’s also measured in the lost opportunities, the missed introductions, and the emotional cost of delay in elevating your own confidence level and self-esteem. These are costs that are difficult to measure, and, what’s worse is you’ll never know what the true cost was.
You learned the Real Reasons for delaying your decision for your Beautiful Smile were:
The Fear Issue can be dealt with by taking action, by first finding the right cosmetic dentist who has your comfort as a #1 priority. Then you have to actually go to the dentist and experience what it’s like. When you find out that it really wasn’t bad at all, you have begun eliminating the “fear” factor. Action Cures Fear. Remember these three words. Action Cures Fear. They will help you throughout life.
The Time Issue can be handled with proper scheduling. Most cosmetic dentists will work with you to help you find the time. The fact is if it’s important enough to you, you will make the time! Remember the story of my mom in Intensive Care. It was important to me, and my time became available. Much cosmetic dentistry can be accomplished in as little as three appointments. Many dentists will reserve an entire morning, afternoon, or even a day for your appointment, so much can be accomplished at that visit.
The Expense Issue is more of understanding what your financial options are. Before you can even discuss the finances, you have to know what the investment will be. It can be as little as $125 for bonding to repair a chip, up to $10,000 for porcelain veneers, or even $35,000 and up for full mouth rehabilitation. There are payment plans, outside funding, equity credit lines, and pre-payment discounts with many offices. Many times your dentistry can be completed in “sections.” When one section is paid for, you can move on to the next. A patient financial coordinator can help you determine which options may be best for you.
The Return On Investment (ROI) for your cosmetic dentistry will far surpass your initial investment. As already mentioned, the missed opportunities and missed introductions will cost you in ways you will never be able to measure. It could be a personal relationship, a business deal, or career advancement. You’ll never know.
Now that the decision has been made to treat yourself to a Great Smile, how do you find the right Cosmetic Dentist? Chapter 6 goes into much detail. There’s a Process that requires you to do a little homework. Remember, rarely is there only one best dentist for your cosmetic dentistry. Several may be able to deliver the quality you expect and deserve, but there will usually be one out of those several that you communicate with better. Recommendations are good, but the “best” dentist for your friend may not be the “best” dentist for you. The question has to be, “Who is the Best Cosmetic Dentist for Me?”
The selection process begins with a consultation or interview. The interview is a two-way street. They are interviewing you, and you are interviewing them. Do your research on the prospective Cosmetic Dentist. Before scheduling this appointment, request brochures describing their practice and develop a list of questions in order to discuss what is involved with a specific procedure, like a veneer or implant. Make sure the dentist is a reputable member of an organization of dentists who focus on cosmetic dentistry and that they have documented education in performing the procedures you are considering. Visit their websites. Learn as much as you can about the dentist before you make your appointment to save your valuable time and money. Find out in advance about the range of fees so you can be prepared to stay within your budget. We also have to know what you are willing to invest in your new Beautiful Smile. The highest quality dentistry will never be the cheapest. But high fees don’t always guarantee the highest quality. Do your homework. Ask for references. Quality Cosmetic Dentists will have a list of very happy, satisfied patients willing to share their stories.
What does the facility look like? Is it up-to-date? Is it technologically advanced? How are you greeted? Do you feel comfortable? Do they listen? Are there “Before & After” photographs of patients this doctor has treated? Are there testimonials? The last question, which is not a “scientific” question, to ask yourself is, “What is my gut telling me?” If it’s just nervous, that’s okay. If it’s trying to tell you something else, you need to listen!
In Chapter 7 you looked at the many “tools” or Services a Cosmetic Dentist has in his toolbox, including:
It’s likely your situation will use a combination of these different services or be a “blended case.” Strategy must be used to insure that you end up with the cosmetic result you truly want.
It’s not up to you to determine exactly what procedures should be used to give you the smile you want. You can ask questions and make requests, but the final choice should be left to your Cosmetic Dentist. They are the experts. They have the years of education and experience. They have also seen cases where a patient insisted on a particular product or service, and the cosmetic results were less than ideal. Find a Cosmetic Dentist you trust, then Let Them Do Their Job!
Chapter 8 deals with Caring for Your New Beautiful Smile. Since you are making an investment in both time and money, it would be nice if you knew the things you could do to make your New Great Smile last for many decades. Prevention is the key and is a combination effort between your dentist and you. You have a responsibility to do your daily homework. Proper care of your teeth One Time a Day is much better than poor care 10 times a day! Proper Care Twice A Day is Best! Proper care includes:
If there are additional techniques, methods, tools, or medications your dentist wants you to use, you also need to be committed to their daily use.
The other responsibility you have is to keep your regular hygiene visits with your dentist so they can check areas you may be missing and give you early detection of any possible problem areas, not just of your teeth, but your gums and other soft tissues too. Cancer Screening can help catch any problem while it is still small. Our Homecare Responsibilities and Regular Hygiene Visits are Extremely Important if we want our New Great Smile to last for many decades!
As with anything, there are things that could be a challenge or a complication. Chapter 9 covered Possible Complications and explained why there isn’t much to go wrong if it’s done right from the beginning.
In Chapter 10 we covered Frequently Asked Questions. People from all income levels, backgrounds, education levels, and geographic regions tend to ask many of the same questions. These questions have been answered and should help you with gathering the good and accurate information you need in coming to this very important decision about your physical appearance.
Chapter 11 is full of testimonies from people who have experienced the benefits of having their smile upgraded to a Really Great Smile. These are patients from many different areas of the country and from many different dentists. The variety was shared so you can see that no matter where you live, chances are there will be a terrific Cosmetic Dentist to help you get the Great Smile you deserve. As you read each of these testimonies, you can hear the emotion in their words. The changed lives, the improved confidence, the new relationships, the tears of joy, the pride, the change in attitude, and the boosted self-image are all real feelings each one of us can relate to and hope to enjoy. Another emotion shared is “the regret for delay.” These testimonials are from regular people, not movie stars. These people go to work in the morning and come home tired, just like you do. They are not the super-wealthy or the super-lucky. They are regular people from many different walks of life. What they shared in common was a commitment to changing their smile. The results are evident.
Conclusion:
You have the Information. We have the Technology and Materials. We have the Research to show the Benefits and the Testimonies to show the Results. It’s Your Turn to do One of Two Things right now:
Do It Now While It’s Fresh In Your Mind!
Experience The Power of a Really Great Smile! |
" As like most people, I waited and waited to get an appointment for a teeth cleaning. I finally decided after many years to do it! Upon arriving at your office, I was greeted by so many pleasant people. As I was waiting, I watched some pictures on “Lumineers”. I decided to ask about them, and decided to do it! My teeth were yellowed and showed signs of aging, such as, unevenness in the front. The procedures were done in three visits, were quite tolerable, and in no time-I have a beautiful smile, which give me so much more confidence. Thank you all for your good work. "
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