Porcelain Crown Cost

Hollywood and the Cosmetic Dentist

Hollywood's most fortunate faces often rely on the skills of their cosmetic dentist in ways that may surprise you.

Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep have perfectly nice teeth on their own. But, to meet the challenges of demanding roles in films, both used cosmetic dental appliances (dentures) to change the looks of their natural teeth.

Since women have smaller, rounder teeth, Hoffman, (who played a woman in "Tootsie") used a partial denture to make his teeth look more feminine.

To suggest the brutality of life in a concentration camp, Meryl Streep's teeth and mouth were altered for her role as Sophie Zawistowska, the poignant heroine of "Sophie's Choice."

More commonly, actors see their cosmetic dentists long before they get in front of the camera. In an image-conscious industry, it's no secret the camera is a harsh critic. And a mouth with missing teeth, or a mouthful of stained or broken teeth never helped an actor's image - or the image of a banker, doctor or secretary for that matter.

Few of us face a camera at work every day. But we all face an audience and it's the same audience that goes to the movies. The movies tell us successful people look good, failures don't. Ugly teeth can tell the tale.

Hollywood uses dentistry to make villains out of heroes - you too can use cosmetic dentistry to get a "winning" smile. Restorative dentistry is available to anyone who wants to look better.

Techniques such as dental veneers and tooth bonding have joined the traditional process of dental caps as ways to improve smiles. Orthodontic braces aren't just for children anymore, they're also available to adults who want straight teeth. In some cases, you can opt for teeth bleaching, or have your teeth lengthened or sculpted. If you think you would benefit from these treatments, ask your cosmetic dentist. Not all the new techniques will work for everyone, but he or she will be glad to discuss the best plan for your smile.

With today's new cosmetic dental techniques, you can cast yourself successfully in a competitive world with an award-winning smile.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

Benefits of Cosmetic Dental Care

Do your looks affect the way people treat you? Positive self-esteem - how we feel about ourselves - is very important to a healthy personality, to happiness, to the development of a positive attitude about life, and to achievement in the direction we choose.

It is well documented that people with a positive "feeling" about themselves do better in school, in business, and have closer, more meaningful relationships.

One measure of self-esteem is how you feel about your physical appearance; or, more importantly, how you feel you look to others. The complexion, teeth, and nose, in that order, are the highest "rated" facial features.

Self-image begins to develop about age four or five. At that age, identity influences other developing traits: social skills, verbal skills, intellect, and the ability to define oneself as a successful person. In other words, at age four or five a child makes a giant step toward "I'm OK, I'm a worthwhile person," or, conversely, toward "I'm not OK." The results can often affect the remainder of that person's life.

Beauty is often more than skin deep, because the psychological damage to a person who feels unattractive can be devastating. Then there's the other side of the coin. Does how we look affect how others treat us?

Indeed. Studies have shown that good-looking people are given the benefit of the doubt over unattractive people. They're thought to be more intelligent, more likeable, higher achievers, honest, and braver than the unattractive. Even school teachers spend more time with attractive students!

Your mouth is important to your total psychological and physical well-being. Is it worth regular dental cleaning and cosmetic dental care? Is visiting your cosmetic dentist and having your broken teeth restored with beautiful dental crowns worth it? Is straightening crooked teeth with braces worth it? We think you'll probably agree, you and your family are definitely worth it!

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.