Why do people hate their smiles?

A smile is worth a thousand words. However, not everyone is willing to smile because of their pearly whites. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) and Wakefield Research found that one-third of Americans dislike their smiles. 

As a dentist, you want all your patients to feel confident about their smiles. How can you do that? Our oral conscious sedation online courses team has rounded up some reasons why people hate their smiles and how dentists can help them fall in love with their smiles. 

Why do people hate their smiles? 

One of the reasons people do not like their smiles is because they are embarrassed about their teeth and mouth. They could have a missing tooth, gaps, chipped or stained teeth. These tooth imperfections could have been ignored due to a lack of dental care. 

Tooth implants, crowns, bridges and veneers are expensive and sometimes not covered by dental insurance. Many people cannot afford out of pocket to get these dental cosmetic fixes. Thus, resulting in them feeling ashamed about their smiles. 

How patients being embarrassed about their smiles impacts their oral health

The way your patient feels about their smile has a major influence on their oral health. People who are embarrassed about their smiles may develop dental anxiety. This term is used to describe the fear of going to the dentist. 

A report found that 20 percent of people do not see a dentist because of dental anxiety. This means that they do not get regular cleanings or check-ups that help detect and prevent oral problems. Not seeing a dentist could result in developing tooth decay, gum disease, dry mouth, cavities and even cause health problems. 

Three ways to help patients overcome their embarrassment 

As a dentist, you play a major role in helping patients feel confident about their smiles. Here are some things you can do to help patients fall in love with their teeth again. 

Listen to their concerns 

The first step to help your patients show off their smiles more is by learning about their concerns. This will give you an understanding of what dental issues they would like to get fixed. Plus, listening to their concerns may help reduce their dental anxiety. 

Give solutions

After you have learned about your patient’s concerns, it is time to provide solutions. Give them a list of cosmetic treatment options that will help them solve their oral problems. For example, if your dental patient is missing teeth, talk to them about dental implants or bridges. If you cannot perform the cosmetic treatments, refer them to someone in your network. 

Offer oral conscious sedation

If dental anxiety is preventing your patient from getting the treatments to improve their smile, inform them about oral conscious sedation. This kind of sedation helps relieve dental anxiety through the administration of sedative drugs. 

Dentists need to maintain their oral conscious sedation certification. If you need to get recertified, take oral conscious sedation online courses. When searching for a course, be sure the educator is approved by your state’s Board of Dentistry. 

Choose one of the best oral conscious sedation online courses. 

Midwest Sedation Consultants can help you get your oral conscious sedation through our online classroom. Our courses are available in eight states: Nebraska, Kansas, Oregon, North Carolina, North Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia. Register to one of our classes today!