smile

It’s easy to think of teeth simply as a tool for chewing food. But they do a lot more than that. Truth is, studies have shown that the condition and appearance of your teeth can transform your social and professional life. So taking that extra trip to the dentist could help you land that job you’ve been dreaming of or a date with a special someone. Let’s take a look at exactly how a gorgeous smile can improve your life now.

Nail That Job Interview

In a job interview, first impressions are everything. Surprisingly enough, about one-third of Americans say that the first part of a face they notice is teeth, according to a perception study developed by Kelton Research. Even more interesting, 24% say that teeth are the part of the face they remember the most after meeting someone. Bad teeth could leave a bad impression, which means no job for you.
Along the same lines, Americans think that people with straight teeth are 45% more likely to get a job than someone with crooked teeth when competing against a person who has a similar skill set and experience.

Bring Home More Bacon

The benefits of gorgeous teeth in the professional world don’t stop at the job interview. Research by Daniel Hamermesh, professor of economics at the University of Texas, found that people who are better looking than average earn 5 to 10 percent more than people who have average looks. People with average looks earn 5 to 10 percent more than people whose looks are below average. In an article by Deseret News, Hamermesh says that teeth are an important component to physical appearance.

Spice Up Your Love Life

If you’re looking for a spark in your love life, improving your teeth might just be the answer. Kelton Research found that people with straight teeth were seen as 57% more likely to find a date on a dating site than people with crooked teeth based on their picture alone. Nearly two in five Americans would consider not going on a second date with someone who has misaligned teeth.

Become A Social Butterfly

Life isn’t all about work and love. Friends can keep you from feeling lonely and help you stay on the right track. And teeth can help you make friends! Having nice teeth can cause you to appear to be trustworthier and have a good personality. Nearly three in four Americans are more likely to trust a person with a nice smile than someone with a good job, clothes or car, according to Kelton Research. People with straight teeth also are 21% more likely to appear to be happy, 47% more likely to be seen as healthy, and 38% more likely to be viewed as smart. Sounds like a good friend to us!
Who would’ve thought a smile could affect your life in so many ways? If you’re ready to transform your life for the better through your pearly whites, contact Water Tower Dental Care today! As the top general and cosmetic dentist in Chicago, we would love to get your teeth looking better than ever.

Did you know that when you smile while talking on the phone, the person on the other end can tell and will respond positively? It’s true. It seems wild that someone might be able to tell if you’re smiling over the phone, but is it really that far-fetched? Think of how many times you’ve answered the phone in a bad or angry mood. The other person on the other end will almost immediately ask you what’s wrong. So why wouldn’t they be able to tell when you’re in a good mood?

Though we may not realize, we are able to interpret the tone of someone voice and can detect if someone is smiling or not. And in turn, it can help send a positive mood to the person you’re talking to.
The trouble is, how do you remember to consciously smile all the time? It’s hard to  think about smiling while on the phone while talking, and probably doing other activities like typing, walking, or (if you’re a parent) wrangling up your children.
If you want to keep a positive smile on your face, while on the phone, or just throughout the day, you need to consciously work on smiling until it becomes a natural reflex. A great time to reinforce your smile is while you’re brushing and flossing your teeth. Give yourself a big smile in the mirror, and decide how you like to smile. Remember that natural feel you get and keep that smile up!
As well, to help keep a smile on your face, you need to have the confidence of a bright smile and white teeth. To do that, you must keep a consistent routine for oral hygiene which includes brushing at least twice a day for two minutes, flossing once a day, and using a mouthwash to give you a fresh breath. When you feel confident about your smile and your teeth, you want to smile and show off those pearly whites.
If you feel self-conscious about crooked or discolored teeth, you can talk to Water Tower Dental about helping correct your smile for the better. Procedures including Invisalign and porcelain veneers can help give you the smile that will bring a new sense of confidence and self-esteem. Your smiles will look more natural and people will respond in a positive way, if they can see you or not.
Smiling while on the phone or in person will help people respond more positively to what you’re saying. However, people can tell the difference between a real and forced smile. That’s why confidence and a positive attitude is so important when it comes to a smile. You need to know that the smile you’re presenting is the face you want people to remember. Great oral hygiene and trusted dentists that can help you achieve the smile you want will help you succeed in your social life just as much as a good haircut and a clean pair of slacks.
Don’t doubt the power of a smile. For more information on how you can achieve your perfect smile, contact Water Tower Dental today, we’d be happy to help you get on your way to a more confident and positive look.

There is a lot to say about a smile that communicates your emotions precisely. It doesn’t always mean happy, either. A smile can communicate mischief, fear, doubt, surprise, and many other emotions. So how do you know if your smile is delivering the right message? First, you must find your perfect smile: the natural way you smile that makes you feel confident you’re communicating the right message. Here are our tips to getting that perfect smile.

Practice Smiling

It may seem silly, but if you want your smile to look they way you hope, you need to practice smiling. Try practicing before or after you brush and floss your teeth. Let it come naturally, what do you like about your smile and what don’t you like? If you change the aspects of your smile (more or less teeth, higher or lower grin), do you like your smile more? Find what feels comfortable and makes you feel confident. Then, remember the way your muscles and face feel in that smile and practice it several more times.

Use Your Eyes

Many forget that the most natural smiles don’t just involve the teeth; they also involve your eyes. A natural, confident smile will draw in the eyes for what is known as a Duchenne smile. This is a smile you cannot fake; it’s your most honest smile.
Consider practicing your smile while only taking notice to the eyes. Cover your mouth even and try to find the emotion that your eyes are conveying. If they don’t look convincing, try other ways of smiling. Think of something that makes you genuinely happy and look at your eyes. When you find a smile that uses your eyes to create a Duchenne smile, practice smiling that way. Though a true Duchenne smile cannot be faked, your muscle memory can help you smile correctly when the time comes.

Smile More Often

The more you smile, the easier it will come, and the more confident you’ll look. Confidence is a main element to the perfect smile. If one is unsure of the way they smile, they can confuse others with how they’re smiling. If you have become used to the way you smile and feel confident about it, others will see that and interpret it.
As well, when you’re feeling down, smiling can often elicit happy emotions. While it may feel odd to force a smile when you don’t feel like smiling, over time, you’ll start to feel happy.

Practice Good Oral Hygiene

Many don’t like to smile because they don’t feel confident with their teeth and oral appearance. Practicing good oral hygiene including brushing and flossing can help melt these fears away. Other ways to boost your oral confidence are:

• Visit your dentist once every six months for regular cleanings. This will help your teeth stay white, keep plaque off of them, and help detect any further issues you may have.
• If you have constant trouble with stained teeth, first consider a few lifestyle changes before those over the counter whiteners. Slow down on consumption of coffee, red wine, and especially cigarettes. If you cut down on teeth-staining foods, but still want whiter teeth, consult your dentist for truly effective ways of whitening them.
• If you have crooked teeth that you would like to fix, consider Invisalign braces. Your dentist can fit you for a set that are much less noticeable than regular braces and can have your teeth looking perfect in no time.
• Make sure to keep your lips moisturized as to not look chapped.
• Last, make sure to address any bad breath issues. Mouthwashes and tongue scrapers are a great way of dealing with the bacteria that harbors bad breath. However, if you still experience problems, visit your dentist, as it may be a cause from a bigger issue.

Getting that perfect smile is not easy. With practice, confidence, and a little help from oral hygiene, you can make sure to have a smile that makes others want to do the same.

Many patients question the need for veneers if they’re worth their time and money. More so, many patients fear the dentist enough that they avoid major treatments that can help give them the perfect smile. Veneers are one of the best options for a whiter, straighter, more beautiful smile. Today we'd like to outline some of the major concerns with Veneers and help you decide if they're worth it.

Process

Believe it or not, the procedure for porcelain veneers is much simpler than one may think. There is no major, invasive surgery and the patient only experiences minimal discomfort during the procedure.
However, the process starts several visits before the final veneers are added.

1. First, the dentist composites digital images of your teeth to give an example as to what veneers would look like.
2. Once you discuss options for the look of the veneers, including shape, style, color, the dentist creates a temporary set of veneers for you to wear. Our "Wax-Up" program allows you to take home a temporary set of teeth so you can take your time to decide if the veneers are right for you or if you'd like to make adjustments. Remember, you are always in control as to what your teeth should look like, so have a strong opinion and make sure you're happy with your smile.

Once you decide on the perfect set of veneers, the dental team will make a permanent set. The veneers are placed over the teeth similar to a cap.

1. First, the dentist removes a small amount of enamel from the tooth to help make the veneer fit snuggly.
2. Then, the veneers are placed over each tooth and adhered to the tooth using a lightweight bonding solution.
3. Once all veneers are applied and straightened, the dentist uses a special heat emitting light, which bonds the veneer onto the teeth. That's all their is to it. Typically a follow up visit is required to ensure the look and fit of the veneers.

Discomfort

We avoid the word pain when it comes to veneers, because patients who receive veneers don't necessarily experience any. They may experience slight discomfort when the dentist removes a small amount of tooth enamel before applying the veneers. For that, we can administer local anesthesia. However, overall, receiving veneers is a simple procedure without invasive surgery.
After the procedure, you may experience slight discomfort during the first few weeks. Often, it takes time to get used to the adjustment and the doctor may even need to do slight reshaping of the porcelain. This again, does not cause much discomfort and is done in an appointment setting.

Time

From start to finish, the process to receive veneers can take roughly 4 to 6 weeks. From the first appointment, to receiving your temporary set, to finally adhering the porcelain veneers to the teeth. Of course, it can take longer if you have issues with your temporary set or request several changes before bonding to the final veneer.
Once the veneers are adhered to the teeth, they can last anywhere up to 10-30 years depending on use and care. Of course, any cracks, chips, discoloration, and decay need to be addressed and visits to the dentist for repair and maintenance may be necessary.

The Look

If you're hoping for a straight, brighter smile, veneers do an amazing job. They easily mask stained, oddly shaped, or crooked teeth without the need for braces or major dental reconstruction. With premium porcelain and adhering materials, the veneers look natural and are as strong as real teeth.
Water Tower Dental guarantees your satisfaction and can assure you'll leave our offices with a smile on your face. Just look at a few of our cases in our Smile Gallery.

Cost

Though costs range depending on the quality of your teeth and how many you plan to cover, veneers can cost anywhere from $1500 - $3000 a tooth depending on the offices you are in contact with. That's quite a pretty penny for a tooth. That means you need to be certain that you're happy with your decision and are confident with the dentist you choose.
We offer our "Wax-Up" program which allows you to wear a temporary set of veneers for a few weeks which replicates the final veneers. This allows for a "test drive" of the veneers and helps decide on the final shape and style.
Only you can decide if veneers are right for you. With this information at hand, it shouldn't be hard to determine if veneers are for you. If you have any more questions, contact Water Tower Dental Care, we're happy to help.