How important is your smile?

That really depends on your social status and work exposure level. If your friends have beautiful smiles and you do not, it can be a source of personal embarrassment which might limit you in a number of ways. If you are exposed to the public in your work that expects to see nice teeth and you do not meet their requirements it could limit your opportunities. Studies show that people with good teeth are happier and more succesful than those that do not have good teeth. Exceptionally pretty teeth have become a social status symbol for a large segment of American society. This is not true around the world. Dentistry done purely for the sake of appearance has migrated from the Hollywood elite to the general masses. This, like everything else in life, is provided to the public at different levels. Not all dentistry is the same level of quality. Many reasons exist that cause this to be a fact, but cost is the predominate factor. "You never get all that you pay for but you never get anything for which you do not pay. " Only fools and little children believe in bargains. It is not always true that dentists that charge higher fees provide better dental care, but it is generally true. For me the importance of a great smile is more than the need to have a luxury car or high end vacation. Many people "value " material possessions more than health. Many people ignore their dental health and abuse themselves through neglect and diet. Ignorance of preventive dentistry contributes to destruction of many dentitions throughout the world. The most valuable thing a dentist can provide for his patient is the knowledge of how to interrupt the disease processes that cannot only cause the loss of teeth but the loss of his patient' s life. Dental infections are linked to heart attack and stroke and a large part of the American public is ignorant and/or apathetic to the facts. It would be better for the public if all dentists agreed on this subject, but that is unfortunately not the case.