Research done on behalf of AACD shows that 99.7 percent of Americans say that a smile is an important social asset and 74 percent feel that an unattractive smile may limit your chance for success.
A University of California study shows that attractive people earn about 12 percent more per year than people who are considered less attractive.
A great smile can also make you more memorable. A study by Kelton Global research indicates that 48 percent of Americans say that someone’s teeth are the first thing they notice when they meet someone.
A good smile can make you more approachable and likable. People with attractive smiles are perceived as more friendly, trustworthy, and competent.
This can be particularly important in client-facing careers, where building relationships and establishing trust is key to success.
Also, and more importantly, a good smile can boost your confidence. When you feel good about your smile, you’re more likely to feel confident in yourself and your abilities. This can translate into better performance at work, as well as increased job satisfaction and career advancement opportunities.
If you are not confident about your smile, you may have trained yourself (consciously or unconsciously) not to smile at all or to smile without showing your teeth.
Smiles like these are not perceived as “genuine” and that does not instil confidence in customers, clients, or interviewers. A 2014 study published in the Journal of Nonverbal Behavior found that displaying a confident genuine smile made participants more persuasive than those who did not. If you’re too embarrassed to show your true smile, choosing to do something about is truly worth it. I had one guest recently who is a perfect example of the power your smile has.
Sade, a guest of mine, had so little confidence in her smile that she always worked in back-office positions so she didn’t have to talk to customers. But when she went back to school to train for a new career, she decided that she wanted to give herself the best chance at success. Her exact words were, “I want to be the face of the company!”
Sade had chronic gum infections and by the time she was 22, she had lost all her front teeth.
“After that, it was like a ripple. I just started losing more of my confidence. So, I was like I have to do something about it.”
We used cutting edge technology to give her a brand new smile. And after her treatment, she wept in our office. “I was like this is a whole different person. This is not the same person!”
Sade’s smile problems were very significant and the procedure we employed to fix them was complex. But if you’re not confident in your smile, I have good news. Your smile problems are almost certainly not as severe as Sade’s, and the procedure to fix them will almost certainly be shorter and easier!
