Appearance Matters and Smiling Boosts Attractiveness According to Study on Oral Health Care Barriers

Aug. 14, 2011 - PRLog -- A study commissioned by a Charlotte dental practice found significant associations between oral health, appearance and life outcomes. Specifically, the study found that appearance matters and that oral health problems can make a person less attractive. However, findings also reveal that a majority of people do not seek oral health care because of fear and other reasons.

Ballantyne Center for Dentistry in Charlotte, North Carolina asked an independent research company to find out what prevents people from seeking dental care and how oral health impacts people's lives. The findings disclose that a nice smile impacts a person's life significantly but it doesn't work for many people because of oral health issues.

Attractiveness affects outcomes such as income, perceived personal characteristics and attitude, and how a person is being treated by other people. Specifically, attractive people tend to earn 5% more and get more attention from employers, teachers and the legal system. They are also viewed as honest and helpful while unattractive people are viewed as unfair and rude.

According to the study, most people think that a nice smile makes a person more attractive:

- 94% notice a person’s smile first rather than height or eyes and even figure
- 87% think that a nice smile is very important to self-esteem
- 75% said that it is very important to career success

These findings support previous studies that show how people with missing, crooked or yellow teeth have lower self-confidence and are reluctant to smile, laugh or talk, and as a result they appear timid, hesitant,  withdrawn, sad or angry.

Outcomes from this current study point out the importance of oral health but it also found that most people do not go or postpone going to their dentists for the following reasons:

- fear of pain, loss of personal space, sedation and dental procedures
- lack of understanding of the importance of smile and oral health as well as importance of oral health to overall health and well being
- cost of dental care
- lack of personalized care

The study concludes that key to oral health and appearance is understanding the following:

- effective ways to eliminate fear (sedation dentistry, personalized care)
- options available to enhance appearance (dental procedures like dental crowns, implants, veneers, and many more)
- technology that can improve personalized experience and comfort

Other studies in the medical field have found links between oral health and overall health. Tooth loss and dental disease reduce life span by 3.4 years. Gum disease increases the risk for heart disease by 200%; it also increases the risk for diabetes, respiratory disease and stroke.

Cosmetic dentists Dr. Christian Yaste and Dr. Joe Hufanda of Ballantyne Center for Dentistry (http://www.BallantyneCenterforDentistry.com) are experts in restorative and cosmetic dentistry with a mission to provide personalized and professional care. They have provided dental services (http://www.ballantynedentistry.com/services.aspx) in Charlotte since 2001.

Research was conducted by Empire Research Group Inc.