When you meet someone for the first time, something happens whether you realize it or not: you form an impression about each other within seconds. You can’t convey your personality and resume in that amount of time, so this initial impression is based in large part on something we call psychological cues. These are the nonverbal ways we communicate with each other and include posture, gestures, and eye contact. They also include our smiles! You may not know it, but your smile is the first thing people notice about you. That’s why we’re taking a look at how you can leave a lasting impression with a straighter smile.
Your smile is also the feature people tend to remember most clearly. That means your smile is one of the most important and influential tools you have, especially during an introduction. The right kind of smile can signal confidence, kindness, and intelligence, but if you don’t love the way your teeth look, you may end up hiding your smile altogether. This can be detrimental on both a personal and professional basis.
The good news is, Oread Orthodontics has the skill, technology, and expertise to help you achieve a smile you can be proud of! Let’s take a look at why smiling is so important, and how our treatment options can successfully correct orthodontic issues from simple to complex. Keep reading below to learn more!
A genuine smile puts people at ease
Fair or not, we place a lot of emphasis on physical appearance when it comes to our first impressions. This generally happens subconsciously. We don’t realize in the moment that we’re assessing a person’s trustworthiness or work ethic before we get to know them, but we can usually tell if we’re going to feel comfortable around them pretty quickly. A genuine smile is a good indicator of that! It puts the people we’re communicating with at ease, and also helps to set a positive tone in almost any situation.
Smiling can increase your confidence level
When you feel good about your smile, you can truly be yourself. If you don’t like the way your smile looks or feels, it can be difficult to stray outside your comfort zones or really let your personality shine. This can hamper your ability to be seen and heard, and what you want to communicate may get lost before it ever reaches the intended audience. Orthodontic treatment can give you a smile that looks great and feels good, too! When you love the way your smile looks, you’ll want to share it with everyone around you. You’ll also feel more confident in yourself, and that will comes through in your interactions with others.
Smiling spreads happiness
When you’re uncomfortable with the way your smile looks, you may hide it behind your hand or avoid genuine smiles in public. This is unfortunate since a bright smile can spread a little spark of joy to those around you with very little effort! Since smiling really is contagious, this can lead to a domino effect of smiles passing from person to person, brightening up each one’s day in the process.
Smiling also gets your “happy” chemicals flowing! Dopamine increases our feelings of happiness, and serotonin release is associated with reduced stress. When you smile, tiny molecules called neuropeptides also come into play, along with endorphins, which are natural pain relievers. It’s kind of like throwing your brain a little feel-good party every time you smile.
Smiling is associated with desirable qualities
A century ago, researcher Edward Thorndike described a phenomenon he called the “halo effect.” This explains how our brains tend to attribute multiple positive qualities to a person based on us noticing just one positive quality. So what does that have to do with your smile?
Invisalign wanted to know the answer to this question, too! They enlisted Kelton Global to conduct a perception study for them and found that straight teeth are often perceived to be an indicator of positive qualities, such as confidence, success, popularity, and even wealth.
The study also showed that about two-thirds of Americans are more likely to remember attractive features than those that they find to be unpleasant. We don’t love the idea of snap judgments, but since they happen every day you may as well take advantage of them by flashing an unforgettable smile!
Take your smile to the next level with our exciting treatment options
Here at Oread Orthodontics, we’re proud to offer patients of all ages affordable treatment options and high-quality care for every budget. This includes the following treatments.
Clarity Advanced clear braces
Clear braces are sometimes referred to as ceramic braces, tooth-colored braces, or esthetic braces. When it comes to straightening teeth, they function the same way traditional metal braces do but come with the added benefit of clear or tooth-colored brackets that blend in with your natural smile.
These braces aren’t completely invisible, but they are much less noticeable than metal braces, even though the brackets are about the same size and shape. When we pair clear brackets with clear, white, or tooth-colored wires and elastic ties, it results in an incredibly subtle way to straighten your smile!
For patients who aren’t suited to removable appliances like Invisalign aligners, clear braces can be the next best thing. This option is very popular with teen and adult patients.
Invisalign® clear aligners
Invisalign is our most popular alternative to traditional braces. It’s a removable appliance, it offers a measure of flexibility that you just can’t achieve with a fixed appliance like braces. The Invisalign system is convenient and efficient, gently moving the teeth over time using a series of clear plastic trays. These aligners are customized for your unique smile and fit comfortably in the mouth, with little to no irritation.
To keep up with the movements the teeth are making, aligners are changed out every 1-2 weeks for the next in the series. The Invisalign system differs from braces in that it can only work if the recommended guidelines are followed to the letter. If a patient does not wear the prescribed aligners for the required 20-22 hours per day, treatment results can be impeded, and extra time may be added to the orthodontic process.
The removable nature of Invisalign aligners makes them extremely easy to maintain! They are designed to be removed before eating, so there’s never an issue with food or debris getting stuck in braces or any frustrating food restrictions. They are also meant to be taken out before brushing and flossing, so oral hygiene is a cinch!
Get a smile that stands out with Oread Orthodontics
Here at Oread Orthodontics, we want to give you a healthy smile that won’t just leave a great first impression, but a lasting one as well! There’s no dental referral necessary and we offer FREE consultations both online and in-office, so why not get in touch today to set up an appointment with Dr. Wood? Your best smile is waiting for you here!