Unfortunately, I’m single – again! Sigh… I am starting to question if it’s my ugly teeth that are holding me back in my love life. Everything seems to be going wrong and once again I’m all alone. I have crooked teeth and always have. But I’m almost 40 years old and cannot bring myself to wear those ugly, metal braces to make my smile even more repulsive. Do braces even work later in your adult life? How long would I have to torture myself with a mouth full of metal?
– Rob in New Jersey
Rob,
Well, you may be on to something. According to a recent survey performed by match.com, it showed that the number one thing that men and women look for when choosing a potential mate is a nice smile. A beautiful smile plays such an integral role in how you feel about how you look and how you feel about yourself on the inside and out. So if you are subconsciously hiding your smile or paranoid about it, then it quite possiblly could be a factor for the dating troubles you are experiencing.
The days of the old metal braecs are long gone. Invisalign invisible braces are a newer alternative. They are based on highly sophisticated computer-generated technology that uses precise movements to straighten teeth in about half the time as conventional braces. They have an extremely high satisfaction rate, are much more comfortable, and can be removed for eating and brushing. From a conversational distance, no one will even be able to tell that you are wearing them. Invisalign straightens teeth in as little as six months and averages about half the time as braces. You insert a set of clear plastic aligners every two weeks and repeat the process until your desired results are achieved.
Now, if Invisalign still seems like too long of a fix and you want a more convenient solution, you may be a candidate for porcelain veneers. These very thin shells of porcelain are bonded to the front surfaces of your teeth. Although they will not physically straighten your teeth, they will give the appearance of a beautiful, straightened smile. Porcelain veneers can be placed in as little as two appointments. Sounds simple, but don’t jump in without doing your research. If you go this route, make sure you seek out the best cosmetic dentist you can find in your area. The right cosmetic dentist will make all the difference. There are many general dentists out there that make the claim to do porcelain veneers, but they only to sub-par work. So meet with your dentist, check out their portfolio of similar cases to yours, and ask about their credentials.
The good news is, your smile can be fixed. But don’t count on your cosmetic dentist for the right pick-up line!
This post is sponsored by York PA dentist Donald H. Currie, DMD General & Cosmetic Dentistry.