Cosmetic Dentistry, Richmond BC - Ironwood Dental Care

How important is your smile?

It might surprise you to know that researchers from Penn State University, USA, have found that people form instant opinions about you based on your smile. Your smile can make you seem likeable and polite, and can even be a sign of your trustworthiness and competence!

It’s not just people’s perceptions of you that are aﬀected by your smile; internal chemical responses can be provoked by your smile. Charles Darwin’s facial feedback response theory suggests that just the very act of smiling can improve our mood. Ron Gutman explains this theory in his TED talk ‘The Hidden Power of The Smile’ - chemically, just one smile can give the brain as much stimulation as eating two thousand chocolate bars!

That may not be good news for those of us who lack conﬁdence in our smiles. What if you have got used to not smiling fully and even trying to hide your teeth when you smile? That’s the reality for a lot of us who have dental concerns - the act of smiling can actually cause us stress. Posing for photos or getting through that important work meeting can become a huge challenge about trying not to show your teeth.

What would you like your smile to say about you, and what are you worried it says about you now? What can be done to make the changes you would like to see in your smile?

Research and smile science

There is a wealth of research about how smiling is a potent form of non-verbal communication. Helwig et al* conducted a study in 2017 which explored the dynamic properties of a smile deemed to be successful. They found a successful smile is about “an intricate balance of mouth angle, smile extent, and dental show”. How attractive your smile is to others is about how it looks.

A diﬀerent study** looked at this in more depth - exploring whether a smile makeover could change how intelligent and successful someone appears. This research found that “teeth alone can have an impact on overall attractiveness and perceptions of personality attributes. One's smile clearly plays a signiﬁcant role in the perception that others have of our appearance and our personality.”

It’s not just about how your smile aﬀects those around you - smiling actually has a big eﬀect on you too! In an inspiring TED Talk, The Power of A Smile, Ron Gutman explains how smiling actually works to stimulate your brain. A single smile can stimulate your brain to the same level as eating 2000 bars of chocolate… or getting $28,000 in cash! You can also reduce your stress levels by smiling as it enhances hormones like cortisol, dopamine and adrenaline in your body.

What is your smile telling the world right now?

A new smile with straight, aligned teeth is not only attractive, but healthy. Teeth in the correct position with ideal shapes function well during chewing. This in turn allows you to chew healthy food comfortably. We can often try to place less weight on others’ opinions of us - but it’s important to know that your smile has an impact, particularly when it comes to meeting people for the ﬁrst time. So, what is your smile telling the world right now? Is it the message you want to send out?

What would you like your smile to say about you?

The good news is that your smile can say whatever you would like it to say. If you dislike aspects of your smile, or have a lack of conﬁdence because of your smile, start by deciding on your smile restoration focus. Ask yourself - what would you like your smile to say about you? We would never want to make anyone feel self-conscious about their smile but we think it’s important to know that your smile is an important part of your non-verbal communication. Small treatments such as veneers or other cosmetic options can make a huge diﬀerence to your overall self-conﬁdence and your oral and dental health, and can open up new opportunities for you in every aspect of your life.

What are your cosmetic dentistry options?

Cosmetic dentistry has become a popular choice for those wanting to make small but signiﬁcant changes to their smile in Richmond and Vancouver. There can be some misunderstanding around the term cosmetic dentistry and what it actually means - isn’t all dentistry cosmetic? It is true that many of the procedures used in cosmetic dentistry can also protect and preserve your natural teeth or replace missing teeth. There are some important diﬀerences between cosmetic dentistry and general dentistry, and the materials that are used in cosmetic dentistry.

Until recently, visiting the dentist was about purely preserving your natural teeth, treating common concerns such as infection and decay. While they are durable and eﬀective, some of the materials used – such as amalgam ﬁllings – were not attractive and have now mostly been replaced. For example, with biocompatible tooth-coloured composite resin ﬁllings and porcelain restorations to strive for a natural-looking outcome. Veneers are frequently used to create a more 'cosmetic' but minimally invasive smile design, closely mimicking the natural translucency of real teeth.

Digital Smile Design is a service provided by some cosmetic and restorative dentists to plan more complicated smile makeovers. It ensures every single detail is carefully analyzed so that we can plan the most appropriate treatment.