Dental News
12 May, 2013
An Attractive Smile; First Impressions Are Everything
A unique study developed by Kelton Research contrasted images of men and women different types of smiles. In the study, respondents were shown images of people with varying tooth issues and asked to give their honest opinion about them. Results of the study indicated that people with a nice smile are perceived to have more desirable qualities than those with smile problems, including attributes such as being happy, surrounded by loved ones, and professionally successful.
"Whether we like it or not, we are often judged by our appearance," said Dr. Michelle Callahan, renowned TV host, relationship expert, and development psychologist. "The results of this Smile Survey prove what I've always believed, which is the importance of an attractive, healthy smile, whether you're socializing and networking face-to-face or virtually. Your smile has more of an effect on what others perceive about you than you think."
According to the Kelton study, many Americans say teeth are an important feature when it comes to what they notice and recall when first meeting someone. The study reinforced the affect that an unattractive smile can have on one's social life and how they are perceived by others, including:
o Making a Lasting impression: Nearly one-third (29%) of Americans say the first aspect of someone's face they typically notice is their teeth, and 24% say that an attractive smile is what they remember the most after meeting someone.
o Nice Smile = Success: When looking at images, those with a nice smile are perceived to be 45% more likely than those with an unattractive smile to get a job when competing with someone who has a similar skill set and experience. They are also seen as 58% more likely to be successful, as well as 58% more likely to be wealthy.
o Love at First Sight: When it comes to attracting a possible mate on a dating site, those with a nice smile are seen as 57% more likely to get a date based on their picture alone.
o Unattractive Smile = Less Dates: Nearly two in five (38%) people would consider not going on a second date with someone who has an unattractive smile.
o A Nice Smile Goes a Long Way: Nearly three in four (73%) Americans would be more likely to trust someone with a nice smile than someone with a good job, outfit, or car.
o The Want List: Having an attractive smile is important. Close to three in five (57%) people would rather have a nice smile than clear skin.
"Many people tend to focus on fixing the things about themselves that they think will have the biggest impact, often overlooking one of the most impressionable physical attributes like their teeth," said Timothy A. Mack , senior vice president of business development for Align Technology. "We live in a society where looking good heavily impacts how we are perceived. You can say you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but people do it every day."
Think body type or hair color is the most important feature in attracting a partner? Think again! A recent survey conducted by CosmaLite™ suggests that a less-than-stellar smile is perhaps the greatest hindrance to finding romance.
The “Biggest Turn-off” dating survey revealed attributes that people find most appealing and least appealing in a romantic partner. When asked what they noticed first about potential partners, 62% of respondents said a person’s smile. Body type and eyes were tied at 12.5%, with fashion sense and complexion coming in at 6.3%
Respondents ranked facial attributes in order of importance as follows: teeth, number one by a landslide at 87.5%. Complexion, second at 66.7%, followed by eyes at 40%, nose at 33.3%, and hair color/style at 26.7%.
According to an annual survey conducted by the mega-dating site Match.com, when it comes to finding that perfect someone, people going out on dates are into nice teeth, well-groomed hair and perfect grammar over all the fancy clothes, fit bodies and flashy cars.
The survey, called “Singles in America,” collected data from over 5,481 singles and more than 1,000 married couples, asking them a range of questions about their dating experiences, preferences and adventures.
Here are some key findings from the survey:
Men judge most on: Women judge:
Teeth (58%) Teeth (71%)
Grammar (55%) Grammar (69%)
Hair (51%) Hair (53%)
Whether you are single, dating, or happily married having a nice smile is very important in how you are perceived by others as well as how you feel about yourself. A beautiful smile sets the stage for a great first impression with everyone you meet.
If you are concerned about your smile I encourage you to make an appointment for a Free Smile Consultation. During the consultation, we can discuss your goals, expectations, and desired outcome in order to determine how your new smile will look.
Each Smile Makeover is different and highly individual. For some, a simple tooth whitening procedure may be all that is needed. For others, Porcelain Veneers are required to create a white, straight, even smile. Replacing metal fillings with natural-looking porcelain fillings is another great option. There are numerous possibilities; Dr. Chambers will help you understand if one or several procedures are needed to achieve your smile goals.
Your straight, white smile will help you feel better, because you will look better. In just a few short dental visits, you can comfortably and affordably enjoy the smile you have always dreamed about.
Dr. Duncan Chambers is a Board Certified Dental Specialist (Prosthodontist).
He has over twenty years of experience and advanced training in
Creating Beautiful Smiles, Teeth Whitening, Dental Implants, Porcelain Veneers and Cosmetic Dentures.
February 10th,2012
GET YOUR BITE BACK - CASTANET EDITORIAL - Dr. Chambers
SUPRISINGLY, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WEARING DENTURES IS ON THE RISE!
People who are edentulous are missing important parts of their bodies, 32 to be exact. They are physically impaired according to the World Health Organization and would be considered disabled by most dentists. Losing your teeth often has devastating consequences.
People without teeth avoid eating a lot of healthy foods; particularly fruit, vegetables and other dietary fibres. They are forced to eat foods that are more processed and are of less nutritional value. This is particularly harmful for those who are vulnerable to malnutrition.
Without teeth their faces sag, lips cave in and their chins become closer to their noses; making them appear older. They hesitate to smile and are often perceived to be unfriendly, grumpy or mad. Many will not eat in public leading to social isolation, loneliness and depression. They are often ashamed and embarrassed by their condition and this lowers their confidence, self-esteem, and makes their life less enjoyable.
If you are missing all of your teeth you are certainly not alone. A recent survey by Health Canada revealed that approximately one in five adults from age 60-79 were missing all of their teeth; the technical term is "edentulism."
Advances in dentistry have helped reduce the percentage of people requiring dentures from 50% in 1990 to only 20% in 2009. However, the number of people over the age of 65 has doubled since 1990 and represents one of the fastest growing groups in Canadian society.
In "A Portrait of Seniors in Canada,” Statistics Canada, Canadians aged 65 to 74 increased from 1.5 million to 2.2 million between 1981 and 2005 and is anticipated to be 4.8 million by 2031, 9.8 million by 2036.
Teeth are most often lost or extracted due to the effect of two dental diseases, Periodontal Disease and Dental Caries. These diseases are slow to progress and are cumulative in nature so that a disproportional number of elderly are affected.
For those unfortunate enough to lose all of their teeth, there is some good news. Dental implants can help solve many of the problems of dentures. Dental implants have been used to replace teeth and secure dentures for over forty years. It is quite surprising that so many people have never even heard of dental implants and needlessly struggling with problem dentures.
Traditionally, false teeth were held in only by suction and supported only by the soft tissues of your mouth. They move when you bite on them and can fall out when you smile, laugh or sneeze. Dental implants are like tooth root replacements. They are placed in your jaw bone and the denture is attached to them. Because the dental implants function like the natural roots, the dentures feel very much like your natural teeth did.
Now, a unique, cost-efficient dental implant procedure can be one of the fastest ways to replace your dentures. A fixed denture consists of a dental implant bridge that is supported by four or more dental implants. It can often be done in a single day so that you never have to go without teeth. Patients who have received this treatment say they feel a renewed sense of confidence, enjoy an improved quality of life, and have regained the ability to eat and taste the foods they love.
As with most things in life, you don't really miss something until it's gone. Fortunately, there are great options available to replace the teeth that you have lost.
Dr. Duncan Chambers is a Board Certified Dental Specialist in replacing missing teeth. He has over twenty years of experience in creating comfortable dentures, stabilizing dentures with dental implants and making fixed dentures that never need to be removed.
Suprisingly, the Number of people wearing dentures is on the rise!
People who are edencording to the World Health Organization and would be considered disabled by most dentists. Losing your teeth often has devastating consequences.
People without teeth avoid eating a lot of healthy foods; particularly fruit, vegetables and other dietary fibres. They are forced to eat foods that are more processed and are of less nutritional value. This is particularly harmful for those who are vulnerable to malnutrition.
Without teeth their faces sag, lips cave in and their chins become closer to their noses; making them appear older. They hesitate to smile and are often perceived to be unfriendly, grumpy or mad. Many will not eat in public leading to social isolation, loneliness and depression. They are often ashamed and embarrassed by their condition and this lowers their confidence, self-esteem, and makes their life less enjoyable.
If you are missing all of your teeth you are certainly not alone. A recent survey by Health Canada revealed that approximately one in five adults from age 60-79 were missing all of their teeth; the technical term is "edentulism."
Advances in dentistry have helped reduce the percentage of people requiring dentures from 50% in 1990 to only 20% in 2009. However, the number of people over the age of 65 has doubled since 1990 and represents one of the fastest growing groups in Canadian society.
In "A Portrait of Seniors in Canada,” Statistics Canada, Canadians aged 65 to 74 increased from 1.5 million to 2.2 million between 1981 and 2005 and is anticipated to be 4.8 million by 2031, 9.8 million by 2036.
Teeth are most often lost or extracted due to the effect of two dental diseases, Periodontal Disease and Dental Caries. These diseases are slow to progress and are cumulative in nature so that a disproportional number of elderly are affected.
For those unfortunate enough to lose all of their teeth, there is some good news. Dental implants can help solve many of the problems of dentures. Dental implants have been used to replace teeth and secure dentures for over forty years. It is quite surprising that so many people have never even heard of dental implants and needlessly struggling with problem dentures.
Traditionally, false teeth were held in only by suction and supported only by the soft tissues of your mouth. They move when you bite on them and can fall out when you smile, laugh or sneeze. Dental implants are like tooth root replacements. They are placed in your jaw bone and the denture is attached to them. Because the dental implants function like the natural roots, the dentures feel very much like your natural teeth did.
Now, a unique, cost-efficient dental implant procedure can be one of the fastest ways to replace your dentures. A fixed denture consists of a dental implant bridge that is supported by four or more dental implants. It can often be done in a single day so that you never have to go without teeth. Patients who have received this treatment say they feel a renewed sense of confidence, enjoy an improved quality of life, and have regained the ability to eat and taste the foods they love.
As with most things in life, you don't really miss something until it's gone. Fortunately, there are great options available to replace the teeth that you have lost.
Dr. Duncan Chambers is a Board Certified Dental Specialist in replacing missing teeth. He has over twenty years of experience in creating comfortable dentures, stabilizing dentures with dental implants and making fixed dentures that never need to be removed.
December 8th 2011
A recent survey from the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) finds 99.7% of Americans believe a smile is an important social asset, with 74% believing an unattractive smile can hurt a person's chance for success. Kelowna prosthodontist Duncan Chambers says this belief is part of the culture, and urges patients to research dentists before undergoing any dental procedure, such as dental implants or a complete smilemakeover.
As more patients undergo cosmetic dental procedures like teeth whitening, or multi-phase dental procedures, such as dental implants and full mouth restorations, Dr. Chambers believes research is the best tool patients can use to ensure quality service and satisfying outcomes. "Patients need to do their homework and the ones that do will be more likely to participate in dental treatments and improve their overall oral health."
He urges patients to stay informed and connected, Dr. Chambers says continuing education also plays an important role in the ongoing success of any dental practice. More patients are undergoing cosmetic dental procedures because they believe their smile is important, both in their social and professional lives. Dr. Chambers says continuing education has made his practice the success that it is today.
"As a lifetime learner, and continuing education instructor I draw upon the experience of others to enhance the services I deliver to my patients."
November 14, 2011
GOVERNMENT SHOULD HELP PAY THE COST OF IMPLANT DENTURES - KELOWNA CAPITAL NEWS
Cost of False Teeth Prohibative
By Contributed - Kelowna Capital News
Published: November 15, 2011 1:00 AM
Many Canadian seniors are suffering the health and social effects of tooth loss because they can’t afford even the expert-agreed minimum standard of care when it comes to false teeth.
All too often, experts and patients say, financial considerations are forcing seniors to endure less-effective treatment that can profoundly affect their quality of life.
“It’s unfortunate: There is a disproportionate number of people who have no teeth who also have no money,” said Kelowna dentist Dr. Duncan Chambers, president of the Association of Prosthodontists of Canada. “They never had the money to take care of their teeth in the first place, and now they’re being punished again because they don’t have the money to replace the teeth they had removed.”
Edentulism—complete tooth loss— is one of the most common ailments afflicting Canada’s seniors. The latest federal figures indicate more than one in five Canadians over the age of 60 —more than one million people—have no natural teeth, a situation the World Health Organization considers a physical handicap.
The standard treatment has long been upper and lower dentures. And with dentures comes a whole new set of problems.
“Little did I know,” says Glenn Dougherty, 77, of Hamilton.
“I got to the point where I could eat hardly anything. It was mostly liquid foods.”
After a lifetime of problems with his teeth and costly dental treatments he ill afford, Dougherty had his teeth pulled more than 20 years ago and replaced with standard dentures.
He quickly discovered the lower denture would not stay in place, a problem that can be exacerbated by the loss of bone that inevitably occurs once the lower teeth are lost.
Almost a decade ago, an international experts symposium in Montreal agreed that the minimum standard of care should be the implant of two titanium screws into the lower jaw onto which lower dentures can be anchored.
Even this minimal standard comes with a hefty price.
At the low end, a set of lower dentures on just two implants will quickly top $10,000. At the high end, a complete set can run close to $60,000.
“You run into this time and time again where someone doesn’t have the means and so they suffer,” says David Barrick, a denturist in Burlington, Ont.
Tooth loss is primarily caused by cavities, gum disease and trauma. Hundreds of medications can damage teeth.
Normally, public or private insurance covers extractions, especially if they’re deemed medically necessary. In most cases, any coverage disappears along with the teeth on the grounds that dentures —with or without implants—are cosmetic, despite numerous studies to the contrary.
According to Health Canada, the loss of all natural teeth can lead to changes in eating patterns, nutrient deficiency and involuntary weight loss as well as speech difficulty.
While Alberta does provide some denture funding for low-income seniors, most Canadians are left to fend for themselves.
“The majority of dental implants, which are artificial tooth roots, are used for aesthetic enhancement,” said David Jensen, a spokesman for Ontario’s Ministry of Health.
“Ministry policy is that the cost of this together with the artificial teeth that would be affixed to the implants is the responsibility of the patient.”
Federal figures show more than half of adults between 60 and 79 years of age have no dental insurance at all. Those who have private insurance usually discover implants aren’t covered.
Denturists say people who want even a minimal implant are forced to do without, take out loans or borrow from family.
Others spend years saving, sometimes only to discover bone loss has made implants no longer feasible.
With the help of a Christian benevolent organization to which he belongs, Dougherty was able to come up with $12,000 he needed three years ago to have implants done.
“It changes your life,” he says. “These teeth are just like normal teeth—they don’t move.”
Nancy Tomkins, president of the Denturist Association of Ontario, says there’s little doubt implants can be hugely beneficial. “I see the incredible difference it makes to people’s abilities to chew, the variety of foods they can choose from, and also the emotional and mental aspect,” Tomkins says.
Even though more Canadian seniors are keeping more of their own teeth, the number without any is likely to grow as the population ages.
Besides of problems with eating and speaking, studies show denture wearers can become socially isolated and depressed—although such costs are hard to quantify.
As a result, countries such as Sweden, Belgium and the Netherlands pay for implant overdentures, Chambers notes, adding Canada should follow suit. “We’d love to see some help from the government,” Chambers said. “Getting old is hard enough.
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