Regarding our appearance, we have long been obsessed with making ourselves look the best we can. However, with the ever-expanding change in societal appearance standards, people have begun to hide certain aspects of their bodies. The continual growth of societal standards of appearances has led to a generalization that those who do not smile are not attractive. This generalization exists because 76% of people will notice your smile first; if we’re not happy with our smiles, we hide them. This situation is where Emotional Dentistry can help.

How Emotional Dentistry Helps Create Happy Clients

While most clients don’t know or understand the meaning behind emotional dentistry, they know they have experienced it after a trip to their dentist! Emotional Dentistry starts with a dentist understanding that a good smile can increase a client’s confidence and self-esteem as our smiles can hinder or boost our mental attitudes. Here are notable examples of how a smile can affect us.

• Self-Consciousness: Smiling is one of the most inspiring things we can do. The more we smile, the more often people want to be around us. However, if we are uncomfortable with our smiles and hide them, people tend to assume we’re unhappy or not someone they want to be around.

• Our Mental Health: Smiling has a few effects on our mental health. When we smile, our brains release a chemical known as serotonin which makes us feel better. The more we can smile, the more often serotonin is released into our systems, making us happier. Those who smile less often, or not at all, tend to suffer from symptoms such as depression or anxiety.

A tool that dentists use to help boost their client’s confidence in their smiles is a procedure known as Digital Smile Design. Dentists who implement DSD use digital imaging tools alongside 3D modeling to show their clients the possible solutions they can use to give them the best smile they can.

Communication between dentists and their clients is a huge factor in ensuring adequate care and the ability to be confident in their smiles. DSD aids this by showing clients what their teeth and smiles will look like after the procedure. If the client wants other adjustments made, they can see what the adjustments will look like without having the procedure done prior, leading to happier clients.

Creating Beautiful Smiles For Everyone

Smiling is a significant factor in everyone’s social lives, whether at a large social gathering or just spending time with friends and family. A good smile that a client can be happy and confident with will lead to them trusting their dentists repeatedly, whether through realignment, destaining and whitening, adjusting an over or underbite, or fixing the amount of visible gumline. These steps will aid in boosting clients’ societal interactions and their ability to happily and freely smile.