The Role of Cosmetic Dentistry in Boosting Self-Confidence

Cosmetic dentistry can boost self-confidence by improving your health, which enhances overall well-being. Read about choosing a dentist in Laurel, MD.

Do you sometimes wish you had teeth as beautiful as your social media friends? Perhaps you don't like something about your teeth or gums that forces you not to smile during picture-taking.

If so, you're not alone.

In a recent article, Dentistry IQ reported that 53% of 2,000 surveyed Americans admitted to comparing their teeth with others on social media, and 56% said they hide their smiles during photo ops!

Over time, the unpleasant emotions you feel about your smile can affect your self-confidence. Fortunately, high-quality cosmetic dentistry services can help you feel more confident to show off your pearly whites.

In this guide, our cosmetic and family dentistry team at Garland K. Davis DDS Family Dentistry in Laurel, MD, will share insights into the self-confidence-boosting effects of dental cosmetic treatments. Please read on.

Feel More Empowered

Self-confidence is a belief in your abilities and yourself. When you feel confident about who you are, you feel empowered because you can: 

• Do things to the best of your abilities
• Reap more enjoyment in activities and life
• Free yourself from self-doubt
• Experience less fear, anxiety, and stress (especially in social and professional situations)
• Have more energy and motivation to act
• Feel at ease and relaxed at social gatherings
• Have a higher sense of self-worth

All those things can enhance self-esteem, which indicates whether you appreciate and value yourself. Self-esteem can change and grow based on interactions with others and life experiences. 

As Verywell Health points out, comparing yourself with others, especially on social media, can lower self-confidence and self-esteem. Over time, this can make you feel anxious and depressed.

Since self-confidence and self-esteem stem from how one perceives oneself, personal appearances play a significant role in these traits. Positive self-perception can boost both, while dissatisfaction can result in the opposite.

For example, if you dislike how your teeth and gums look, you may doubt yourself and the power behind your smile. Over time, this can lead to a lower sense of self-worth.

High-quality cosmetic dentistry services performed by a skilled Laurel MD dentist can significantly improve the appearance of your smile. Whether your dissatisfaction is due to stained, badly damaged, or missing teeth, an experienced cosmetic dentist can help correct these problems.

Be More Confident in Your Smile

One of the most common problems people have with their smiles is teeth discoloration. It can cause unsightly, visible colored spots or yellowing, even browning, of entire tooth surfaces. If you experience this issue, you'll be happy to know that experienced cosmetic dentists in Laurel, MD, can correct them with the following cosmetic procedures.

Professional Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening performed by an experienced dentist is better than at-home products like whitening toothpaste or mouthwash.

One reason is that dentists use laser technology with more effective teeth whitening solutions. The combination removes even the most stubborn stains caused by coffee, tea, or wine.   

Moreover, professional teeth whitening provides immediate results. So, you can leave the dental office with visibly brighter and whiter teeth.

Dental Veneers

Professional teeth whitening is best for extrinsic stains, which affect the outermost layer of the teeth. However, it may not work well for severe intrinsic stains, which affect the inner parts of teeth. In such cases, your cosmetic dentist in Laurel, MD, may recommend dental veneers. 

Veneers are thin, shell-like restorations that cover the front of the teeth. Your dentist will bond them to the surface of the teeth using dental adhesive. They may remove a tiny portion of the enamel during veneer placement.

Dental veneers are ideal solutions for badly stained front teeth. However, your dentist may also recommend them for teeth with small cracks and chips. If you have smaller-than-average teeth or their size doesn't match the rest of your pearly whites, you can get porcelain veneers to fix the issue, too.

Look and Feel Better With Dental Implants

Missing teeth can make you feel uncomfortable to smile, significantly impacting your self-confidence and self-esteem. Fortunately, you can restore your beautiful smile and even improve mouth functions through high-quality dental implants.

Unlike other tooth restoration options that are only superficial, implants replace entire tooth structures. For example, dentures only replace the visible part of the teeth, while implants replace that and lost tooth roots. Veneers can help fix stained and damaged teeth, but they're for existing teeth, while dental implants are for pearly whites you've already lost. 

With dental implants, you can feel more confident about your smile and worry less about your replacement teeth accidentally slipping or falling out. They won't; they're securely in place and connected to your jawbone. You can also feel happier since implants help improve mouth functions like eating and speaking. 

Appreciate Yourself More With Straighter Teeth and Bite

Crooked teeth, overbites, and underbites are common teeth and bite alignment problems many Americans have. They're not only cosmetic; they can also lead to health problems.

For example, an article published in the National Library of Medicine points out that severe misalignments can cause problems with eating, drinking, and speaking problems. They can even cause breathing issues! Other unpleasant symptoms and complications they can bring include:

• Pain
• Tense muscles
• Wobbly teeth
• Increased risk of tooth decay
• Mental health concerns

The good news is that treatments from a reliable family and cosmetic dentistry office, including Invisalign, can help straighten teeth.

Unlike traditional braces made of metal brackets and wires, the Invisalign system uses clear, removable aligners. The aligners, also called trays, fit snugly over the teeth and gradually move them to more desirable positions. Thanks to their thermoplastic material, which makes them see-through, others won't even notice you're undergoing Invisalign treatment!

Let Cosmetic Dentistry Help You Feel More Confident

From helping enhance your self-esteem to making you feel happier and better about yourself, these are some of the top ways cosmetic dentistry services can help boost your self-confidence. 

Our caring and compassionate staff and dentist at Garland K. David DDS Family Dentistry can help kickstart your journey to achieving more self-confidence. Our dentist, Dr. Garland Davis, has served Laurel, MD, with high-quality, personalized family and cosmetic dentistry services since 1984.

So, if you're ready to make a positive change in your life, we highly encourage you to schedule an appointment with us. We'll happily provide you with a complimentary initial consultation.