Much of our professional life is spent speaking to others face-to-face, whether in-person or via Zoom. Naturally, how your mouth looks matters, and a smile that’s missing teeth might be saying more than you mean to about your professional persona. In our corporate culture, a healthy, attractive smile is important – we really do judge books by their covers. If you’re missing teeth, you might also be missing out on opportunities.
Dental implants are a popular and effective way to replace missing teeth naturally and permanently. They can help improve your appearance, your oral health and your self-esteem, which in turn can have a positive impact on your career. Are dental implants the solution to your stalled success?
Here’s what you need to know about dental implants and how a healthy and complete smile can help you achieve your professional goals:
What Are Dental Implants?
A dental implant describes a three-part system that comprises a complete prosthetic tooth. The implant itself is a post that is typically made of titanium. This post acts as the root of the tooth. An abutment, or connector, is placed on top of the implant, which then connects to the crown, which is custom made to match your natural teeth.
Permanent tooth fixtures offer amazing aesthetics, but they also protect the health of your mouth below the gums. The jaw integrates the implant’s root, naturally anchoring the unit into the socket and replacing the biological function of a natural tooth root. It stabilizes and preserves the jaw bone and prevents other teeth from shifting.
The crowns created for dental implants are often made of zirconia, a non-metal ceramic that mimics the look and function of the visible portion of a tooth. Crowns can be exactly color matched, and crafted with natural angles and contours that make it indistinguishable from the natural teeth surrounding it.
In all, dental implants are the preferred solution to replacing missing teeth, because it’s one thing to have a complete smile, but it’s even better to have a complete smile that looks completely natural (even though you got some help from an oral surgeon).
Confidence & Professional Relationships
Dental implants can improve your appearance by replacing missing or damaged teeth. This can have a positive impact if you have a career interacting with clients. Implants also look and feel like natural teeth. They are more secure than dentures, decreasing the likelihood of damage, further increasing confidence. The more confident you are in your profession, the more successful you can be.
Smiling and the benefits that go along with it actually affects those around you as well. Studies show that seeing a smiling face activates your orbitofrontal cortex, which is responsible for sensory rewards. So not only do you feel better when you smile, people around you do as well!
Feeling good about yourself doesn’t just leave a better visual impression on others; it allows you to be your best self. Maybe you’ll be more driven, more likely to approach a client or ask a partner for a favor, or more quick to pick up that extra project and overtime. It’s pretty impressive what a smile that you feel good about can do for your self-image.
Speech & Diet with Dental Implants
Many professions require regular public speaking. Individuals with dentures or missing teeth sometimes have problems with their speech. Receiving dental implants can ensure that your teeth are functioning normally, correcting any issues with speech.
Having a restricted diet due to missing teeth or poor oral health can cause an individual to miss out on opportunities such as group gatherings for work. Having dental implants instead of dentures can ensure that patients do not need to live with restrictions to what they can consume.
Dental implants lack the complications of temporary mouth restorations like dentures. There’s no adhesive to deal with; you don’t have to worry about them falling out at a dinner with the boss; and there’s no clacking when speaking. Get through every presentation and business brunch knowing that you started and ended it with all your teeth in the right place.
Better Oral Health = Fewer Sick Days
Patients without dental implants are more likely to experience periodontal disease. This is because the mere fact of missing a tooth poses a risk to your oral health, not just your appearance. Periodontal disease is an extreme form of gingivitis where there is infection and inflammation of the gums and bone surrounding the teeth, eventually leading to further tooth loss.
In addition, periodontal disease is linked to other chronic illnesses like heart and blood pressure problems. A sick day here and there might not seem like a lot, but to your superiors, they may add up to you not being a candidate for moving up in the company. Dental implants, as a comprehensive and holistic reconstruction method, make for overall better health, minimizing any extra reasons for having to miss work due to complications.
Career-wise, dental implants are a great investment. If you’re missing teeth and are considering dental implants, don’t hesitate to make the jump. Permanent teeth prosthetics can help you in your current career or open up new opportunities for you down the road, which may also increase your earning potential.
