MARIETTA, Ga., March 24, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A dental practitioner serving the Marietta and East Cobb area seeks to remind people of the difference a beautiful smile can make in high-profile professional and social circumstances. According to Dr. Clifford Morton of Morton General and Implant Dentistry, even teeth bleaching or veneers can help busy professionals make a better impression in photographs, at public events and in the business world. "Cosmetic dentistry doesn't just enhance outward appearance -- it also provides a significant boost to people's self-confidence and self-esteem," says the dentist.
The figures would seem to support his claim. A survey by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry found that 48 percent of respondents regarded a person's smile as the most critical factor in first impressions. 37 percent of respondents also stated that a flawed smile made people appear less attractive, while 25 percent felt that such flaws made them appear less confident.
"That first smile you give someone matters more than the first words you say to them or the clothes you're wearing," says Dr. Morton. "This obviously has significant implications for anyone who influence people in their line of work." He adds that the quality of a person's smile also takes on greater importance at those special events where flashbulbs are in play. "Weddings, graduation ceremonies, reunions -- they all include photographs that many people will look at for years to come," he says. "The time to get that cosmetic dental work is before those pictures get taken."
Dr. Morton notes that structural restorations can make a critical difference in overall appearance. Missing teeth, for instance, can be replaced with permanent dental implants that match the surrounding teeth exactly. These restorations have the further advantage of allowing patients to eat and speak more easily. Because the process of preparing and installing an implant generally takes several months, however, he recommends that people plan them well in advance.
"The metal post must fuse firmly with the bone before we can proceed with the crown," he explains. Cosmetic procedures such as teeth bleaching are neither time-consuming nor complex. Teeth bleaching, a common and popular method among celebrities, involves one or more sessions in which trays filled with a professional-grade peroxide solution are placed over the teeth. For those who cannot achieve the desired level of whiteness through bleaching, or who have broken or cracked teeth, porcelain veneers attached to the front surfaces can prove highly successful.
Dr. Morton notes that the increase in confidence and willingness to smile more widely and frequently has an attractive power of its own, saying, "When people feel beautiful, others notice."
In addition to cosmetic dental procedures, Morton General and Implant Dentistry provides general and family dental services such as checkups, cleanings, sedation dentistry, dental surgery and pediatric dentistry.