How Much Your Smile Matters to First Impressions

We often talk about how important your smile is to your appearance, and, in particular, the first impression you make on people. In fact, we often say that your smile is the first thing people notice about you, and the last thing they’ll forget.

However, being dentists, we understand that you might think we’re biased on this question. So it’s refreshing to see that when asked about their smiles, most Americans will agree with us. The results of a new study released last week show that people consider their smile as being of central importance in making a first impression and beyond.

Your Smile Is Your First Impression

In this new survey of 2000 Americans aged 18 and older, 76% of respondents agreed that your smile is the #1 trait that makes a first impression on others. This is significantly more than your clothing (rated as important by 56% of respondents) and hair (important to 51%). Only 69% of people consider the eyes important. Even though this is the second-highest ranking factor, it’s still significantly less important than the smile.

Almost as important as the smile itself is what it says about a person’s character. In the survey, 68% of respondents said that a smile makes a person seem more trustworthy, confident, and approachable. Not surprisingly, people feel pressure to smile in pictures on social media, with most of the pressure coming on Facebook (53% said they felt pressured to have a good smile) and Instagram (41% felt pressured), while LinkedIn seemed to have the least pressure to smile (24% felt pressured).

Pressure to smile also comes in dating apps, where 32% rank a smile as the main thing they used to choose a date, more than twice as much as their body type (15%).

Most People Are Unhappy with Their Smiles

The survey also revealed that about 60% of people are unhappy with the appearance of their smiles. This partly explains why many people don’t smile in photos. About 40% of respondents said they don’t always smile in pictures, using a poker face, pucker, frown, or surprised face instead of smiling. Nearly a third admit to hiding behind masks or other objects to keep their smile concealed.

Although many people conceal their smiles, it’s important to know that there is an alternative: you can get a smile you’ll be proud of and happy to show off, thanks to cosmetic dentistry in River Edge.

Cosmetic Dentistry Fixes Common Cosmetic Complaints

If you are unhappy with your smile for essentially any reason, cosmetic dentistry can help. Cosmetic dentistry can improve your smile if your teeth are:

Discolored
Chipped, cracked, or broken
Gapped or crooked teeth
Short, small, or worn
Marred by unattractive restorations
Missing

Often, in fact, there are multiple choices for correcting each of these cosmetic complaints.

Discolored Teeth

With discolored teeth, we use two main options for brightening them. Teeth whitening works for most people. Professional teeth whitening is more powerful than over-the-counter whitening treatments. However, if whitening doesn’t work for your teeth, dental veneers are an effective solution.

Chipped, Cracked, or Broken Teeth

If you have cosmetic chips from your teeth, dental bonding is an affordable and quick solution. However, dental veneers are a longer-lasting and more attractive solution.

Cracked or broken teeth might require greater support, which dental crowns can provide.

Gapped or Crooked Teeth

If you have crooked teeth or gaps between your teeth, we have two good options. We can use orthodontics to move your teeth closer together. This takes time, but it’s effective in almost every case. Veneers can also straighten teeth, which is why people sometimes call them “instant orthodontics.” We can also expand your teeth to close the gaps, using bonding or veneers. This solution is best if you have small teeth.

Short, Small, or Worn Teeth

If your teeth are naturally short or small, or if they’ve been worn down over time, we can build them back up. For just one or a few small teeth, dental bonding is an option. For more worn or small teeth, dental veneers often make a better choice. In some cases, teeth need more support and protection than veneers provide. Then we’ll recommend dental crowns.

Marred by Unattractive Restorations

If you’ve gotten dental restorations over the years, it’s likely that many of them are not as attractive as you might like. Some of them might be made using older technology, such as metal crowns and fillings. Others might have been made with different materials that no longer match your natural teeth or each other.

Cosmetic dentistry in River Edge can replace your restorations with new ones that match each other and your natural teeth. New restorations will retain their color better than old ones, and are also stronger and more durable.

Missing

If you’re missing one or more teeth, we have numerous options to replace them and give you a beautiful, whole smile again. The best option for replacing teeth is dental implants. Implants can replace any number of teeth, giving you secure, functional replacements.

In addition, we offer dentures. Modern dentures are much better than the dentures of the past, and New You Dentures look natural and fit comfortably.

A New, Beautiful Smile in River Edge, NJ

If you are among the 60% of people who are unhappy with their smiles, there’s no time like the present to consider improving your look. Let River Edge, NJ cosmetic dentist Dr. Marlen Martirossian evaluate your smile and recommend the right approach to give you one you’ll be proud to show off in person and online.

Please call (201) 343-4044 or use our online contact form today to request an appointment at River Edge Dental.