5 Ways a Cosmetic Dentist Can Improve Your Life
According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), a gorgeous smile has a significant impact on how a person is perceived. On the flip side, issues like dental stains, wide or uneven teeth spacing, crooked teeth, and chipped teeth make a smile not-so-gorgeous. As a cosmetic dentist, Dr. Jeffrey Salatino transforms drab smiles into head-turning masterpieces. Now more than ever in history, we have the tools, treatments, and technology to improve the appearance of smiles in record time, with materials designed to last for years.
Cosmetic dentistry can give you:
Improved self-image
Improved first impressions
Romantic confidence
Professional confidence
Social confidence
As an Alpharetta cosmetic dentist, Dr. Jeffrey Salatino offers a full menu of esthetic services to image-conscious teenagers and adults, including stunning porcelain veneers, clear Invisalign orthodontic aligners, bonding, contouring, and more. To boost your confidence and improve how others perceive you, schedule a consultation with Dr. Salatino at Healthy Smiles of East Cobb by calling 770-973-9765 today.
What Procedures Does a Cosmetic Dentist Offer?
The term “cosmetic dentist” sounds like it describes a specialist, but cosmetic dentistry is not a recognized specialty by the American Dental Association (ADA). When you choose a cosmetic dentist, don’t assume that he or she is gifted in esthetic dentistry. Look not only at his or her continuing education accomplishments in the realm of cosmetic dentistry; look also at his before-and-after gallery to review his work. Read patient reviews on Google and Facebook. You want to feel confident in the cosmetic dentist you choose, but you also need to feel comfortable giving him the responsibility of transforming your smile.
As a native of Alpharetta, Dr. Salatino makes patients feel like family. He has participated in Smile Train, an organization that provides no-cost cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries to children. Dr. Salatino’s continuing education focuses on a range of procedures, including cosmetics. You can review his bio on the Healthy Smiles of East Cobb website, and ask him to see his before-and-after portfolio at your cosmetic consultation.
Dr. Salatino offers these transformative cosmetic dentistry treatments:
Professional Teeth Whitening - Zoom! In-office or Home Options
Zoom! Is a leader in professional teeth whitening systems and products. Dr. Salatino uses the in-office Zoom! Whitening treatment to brighten tooth enamel by up to 10 shades with a single treatment. The appointment takes about one hour, so you can whiten on your lunch break!
We also offer take-home systems with a stronger whitening agent than is available over the counter. If you’ve used non-prescription whitening pastes, rinses, strips, pens, or trays and desire brighter results, this system may be perfect for you. The results rival in-office treatment.
Porcelain Veneers
Sometimes referred to as the all-in-one smile makeover, porcelain veneers cover the front surface of teeth that show in a smile. When people smile and speak, usually the top six to eight teeth are visible, but for some, bottom teeth may show, as well. At your consultation, Dr. Salatino can help you determine which teeth should receive veneers.
With proper oral hygiene and dental care, porcelain veneers can last 20 years or longer!
Cosmetic Teeth Bonding & Contouring
White fillings are sculpted from shade-matched composite resin, a liquid that hardens into a strong restoration when exposed to a curing light. Dr. Salatino uses the same material in cosmetic bonding, to close wide spaces, repair chips, cover stains (and thin tooth enamel), and correct other imperfections on front teeth. Bonding, like veneers, can transform a smile. However, over time stains can appear in seams, where bonding meets tooth enamel. Bonding also lasts about 7-10 years, is performed in one visit, and isn’t as strong as porcelain veneers.
Contouring is the removal of enamel to create softer, more pleasing lines. We may use cosmetic contouring to smooth sharp edges on canines or soften the rough edge of a chipped tooth. Contouring is permanent, done in one visit, and lasts forever.
Invisalign Clear Orthodontics
Perhaps this is the best discovery in the modern history of orthodontics! Invisalign is a system that uses clear acrylic, custom-made dental aligners to achieve results similar to that of metal braces. Invisalign aligners, or trays, are removable, as well. Treatment generally takes less time than metal braces.
Invisalign Teen is a special product that includes regular Invisalign but also features blue-dot technology to help parents and dentists know whether the teen patient is wearing his Invisalign aligners as often as he should. A patient should wear the trays for 22 hours a day but can remove the aligners when eating a meal, cleaning teeth, or attending an important event. Invisalign Teen also comes with six replacement aligners, because let’s face it–many teens tend to lose things. Important things!
Now that you understand more about cosmetic dentistry, you can better comprehend how a cosmetic dentist can help improve your self-image and the first impression you make.
Improved Self-Image
Every morning you look in the mirror when combing your hair, brushing your teeth, and, in some cases, putting on makeup. Do you like your smile? When you see yourself in photographs and videos, are you hiding your smile? Maybe you grin, lips closed, instead.
After a smile makeover, you’ll love your smile.
Straight, evenly spaced, perfectly shaped, pearly white teeth look attractive on anyone. As an experienced and trained cosmetic dentist, Dr. Salatino will ensure that your smile makeover delivers a unique, fabulous smile.
Improved First Impressions
You may not like to admit it, but most people base a first impression on appearances. After all, what else is there to base an impression on? A person who does not know you will naturally make assumptions based on your appearance.
This research, published by the AACD, found that people with an attractive smile are seen as more:
Attractive
Intelligent
Happy
Successful in their career
Friendly
Interesting
Kind
Wealthy
Popular with the opposite sex
Sensitive to other people
In the poll, participants looked at eight before and after pictures of smile makeover patients. Before their smile makeover, the subjects presented with issues like:
Discolored teeth
Disproportionately sized teeth
Uneven teeth
Teeth with sharp edges
Worn down front teeth
Minor to moderate misalignments
Romantic Confidence
A research article by Rhyuei Ueda, published in Frontiers in Psychology, on 14 June 2022, concluded through neuroimaging studies that viewing attractive faces stimulates the reward system in the brain, prompting euphoria. This could “induce initial romantic attraction.”
This research, combined with the AACD results listed above, tells us that our brains appreciate facial attractiveness. After a smile makeover, you may appeal more strongly to potential mates.
Professional Confidence
Proctor and Gamble published an article about a Kelton Research study in 2007 that found that after teeth whitening, job interviewees landed jobs more often and with a higher salary than participants who did not undergo whitening. And this study’s results were based solely on teeth whitening, not other cosmetic dentistry treatments.
Going back to romance for a moment, the Kelton Research project had three parts; the second part found that on dates, evaluators had a stronger interest in continuing a date with people who had whiter teeth (underwent whitening).
Social Confidence
According to self-esteem expert and author of multiple publications on this topic, Dr. Joe Rubino states that 85% of adults suffer from poor self-esteem.
An article in Psychology Today, by Jennifer Guttman, Psy.D., poses questions that people can ask themselves to self-evaluate their self-esteem. People who are sensitive to criticism, have a pattern of self-isolation in social situations, have negative thoughts about themselves and their abilities, avoid eye contact, and have trouble asserting themselves may suffer from low self-esteem.
Physicians and dentists know the power of smiling. The human brain releases dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin when we smile. These chemicals reduce anxiety and increase happiness, and serotonin is used in anti-depressant medications. Furthermore, smiles truly are contagious. The brain’s orbit-frontal-cortex, the sensory reward center, is activated when we see a smile.
For a person who is socially anxious, a smile makeover can transform their world. When they love their smile, they’re more likely to show it off. When they smile, their social anxiety will go up against chemicals that reduce anxiety. People around them will “catch” their smile, as well. All of this adds up to a positive social experience!
Schedule a Consultation with Your Alpharetta, GA, Cosmetic Dentist Today!
Are you ready to love your smile? Do you want to make a fantastic first impression? Learn how esthetic dental procedures can give you a head-turning smile. Call Healthy Smiles of East Cobb at 770-973-9765 in Alpharetta, GA, now. Our cosmetic dentist, Dr. Salatino, will take the time to talk with you about your smile, what you want to alter, and how to accomplish those goals. We welcome new patients and look forward to meeting you.