Are You Embarrassed By Your Teeth?

Poor teeth can affect our confidence and our social life says Burton and Ashby dentist, Usha Sirdevi

Although teeth make up a very small part of the human body, we are probably more conscious of them than we are about some of the larger parts. Although we may wish to lose weight or build muscles, most of us probably think about our teeth much more than we do our other limbs etc.

One possible reason for this is that they are located so close to the brain and other sensory organs such as the lips, eyes and ears, making us much more aware of them. Another is that, as psychologists have shown, our smile is a very important indicator to others about our friendliness (or not). It is said that most of us, on meeting a new person, will make a decision about them in the first few seconds. Of course, this can change over time and friendships can develop. But if that initial meeting doesn’t provide a ‘spark’, a friendship may never be allowed to develop.

Your smile

What is the first thing we notice when we meet someone for the first time? Almost certainly, it is their smile. If we greet someone and they don’t smile, that is not going to give a very good first impression. If they do smile, but their teeth are discoloured or crooked, however nice that person is, we may be less than impressed, especially if the meeting is a first date!

Most of us will happily get dressed up and wear smart clothes for this sort of meeting and whilst this is not as straightforward when it comes to our teeth, cosmetic dentistry now offers the opportunity to do the same for your smile.

We have discussed options for replacing missing teeth recently so let’s presume that you have a full set of teeth, but perhaps ones that are crooked or that have become stained or discoloured over time.

Straightening your teeth

Crooked teeth can cause oral health issues as they are more difficult to keep clean. For most people who are unhappy with their crooked teeth though, it is because of their appearance. Before any effort is made to brighten up your smile, you may need to wear orthodontics (braces) for a while. At Alexandra Dental Care, we provide orthodontics for both minor and less minor corrections. It is important that when we straighten teeth, we do so gently. Putting too much pressure on a tooth to reposition it is going to be not only uncomfortable, but also potentially damaging for the tooth and underlying bone structure.

Unfortunately, for those whose teeth are quite crooked, this may mean wearing orthodontics for some time, often a year or more. Modern orthodontic systems such as Invisalign though, make this much easier than it would once have been. Both comfortable and almost invisible to those around you, Invisalign can help you have an even smile without the embarrassments of the old style metal braces.

Not everyone has badly crooked teeth, but a minor issue with your front teeth can be detrimental to your smile. Agan, our Burton and Ashby patients can benefit from a system such as the Inman Aligner, which can correct minor issues in as little as 6 weeks.

Whiter teeth

It will probably come as no surprise to know that a teeth whitening procedure is a popular cosmetic dental treatment currently available at Alexandra Dental Care. This isn’t really surprising as it has been widely used by reality show contestants and other TV personalities. It is also a non invasive treatment that is affordable for a wide range of people.

It is a fast acting and safe way to have better looking teeth. Because it is so popular though, there have been attempts to ‘cash in’ on this by some companies offering ‘at home’ treatments without the face to face care of a dentist. Although these may still be safe, there are a number of issues that can arise. Firstly, there is little point in having white teeth if they are decaying. Your tooth health should always be checked before any cosmetic treatment is carried out. It is also important that the trays used are a secure fit as the whitening ingredient, a form of bleach, can cause harm to your gums and lips if it comes into contact with them.

There is no need to be embarrassed by your teeth or to shy away from social events these days. Cosmetic dental treatments can now give you a smile to be proud of! If you would like to find out more about how we can help you with yours, please contact our reception team on 01283 216347.

Usha Sirdevi – Dentist, Alexandra Dental Care – GDC number 118845

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