Everyone seeks a perfect beautiful smile. In the olden days, women used to adorn their teeth with jewels such as the early Mayans who encrusted their teeth with gemstones. After cosmetic dentistry became popular among celebrities and movie stars, it started a craze and is now the fastest growing streams in dentistry, expected to reach US$89 billion by 2030.
Having a beautiful smile and straight, pearly white teeth can be a great asset. It not only creates a first impression, but also helps you win instant admiration in today’s social media obsessed world. However, apart from comments on social media, does it really make you happier?
A research called “From Improving Egos to Perfecting Smiles: Orthodontics and Psychology, 1945-2000” published by the National Library of Medicine, has found that in the 1950s and 1960s, Canadian parents were told orthodontics would “cure” inferiority complexes and protect children with crooked teeth, especially girls, from a life of delinquency and missed opportunities. In the last two decades of the 20th century, the consumer health movement and rising incomes empowered patients to decide which treatments were right for them, and an increasing number of adult patients sought orthodontic treatment to improve their appearance.
There is a condition in physiology familiar to plastic surgeons called body dysmorphic disorder. This condition forces people to compare their body with a perceived mental image and not on reality. Even plastic surgery does not cure this condition, because people cannot see any changes to their body. These patients may seek continuous plastic surgery operations trying to find satisfaction and, in the end, put themselves at risk with serious consequences. This condition is similar in dentistry and called dental dysmorphic disorder.
While orthodontists over the years have claimed that orthodontic treatment could improve psychological health, health psychologists and other researchers have questioned this claim. It is strongly suggested that cosmetic dentists, like plastic surgeons, should factor psychological factors when deciding whether a potential patient is a good candidate for cosmetic dentistry.
There is a school of thought that happiness after cosmetic dentistry can hinge on psychological factors because for many people who seek a cosmetic dental procedure, their teeth may be the least of their problems.
A study published by the British Dental Journal looked at psychological satisfaction factors before and after cosmetic dentistry procedures. The study found out that people who were satisfied with their face overall before treatment were nearly three times more likely to express satisfaction with their cosmetic dentistry results. This seems a bit strange because it is normally expected that someone who is not satisfied would see improvement more clearly than someone who was little or not dissatisfied with their face. Hence, it seems that it was never the smile that was the problem in the first place.
While the question of whether cosmetic dentistry can make you happier does not have a straight answer, it can have a positive impact on you.
It can help improve your smile
The relentless magnification of aesthetics on social media has resulted in one in three people to be conscious of their smile. Cosmetic dentistry can boost your confidence by eliminating visible flaws such as yellow stains, uneven teeth and give your teeth a pleasant aesthetic appearance. When you are confident in your smile, you smile more and spread more cheer.
It can boost your self-esteem
Common dental problems like crooked teeth, chipped teeth, discoloured teeth can have a far-reaching effect. Cosmetic dentistry can restore the look and function of teeth that are discoloured, decayed, damaged, crooked or worn and can boost your self-esteem.
It can help improve your social life
A smile is the best accessory to wear, a symbol of friendship, peace and optimism. It welcomes new people and them comfortable. People who smile more, send out positive signals to others and better social interaction can ultimately help improve social life.
It can improve dental health and overall health
Cosmetic dentistry not only has an aesthetic value but can also fix dental problems such as crooked teeth, gaps between the teeth and so on. It is well known that positive dental health can lead to overall health and a positive impact in life.
Summary
While it is not proved that cosmetic dentistry can make you happier, the benefits outweigh the negatives. A bright and whiter smile is attractive, welcoming, and can create a positive impact in your life, relationships and your image at your workplace.
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