(Stock Photo) According to the American College of Dentistry, more than 92 percent of adults believe an attractive smile is an important asset.
Smile till your heart's content this Valentine's Day
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FEBRUARY 08, 2006
By Happynews Staff

"Your smile communicates a lot about how you feel about yourself. Even a minor flaw in your smile can keep you from feeling your best about the way you look," said Dr. John Lazzara, vice president of doctor relations with Imagine Orthodontics. "There's no question a beautiful smile goes a long way toward improving self confidence."
According to the American College of Dentistry, more than 92 percent of adults believe an attractive smile is an important asset. Ninety-six percent of Americans believe an attractive smile makes a person more appealing to the opposite sex and 85 percent agree than an unattractive smile can make a person less appealing.
Physical attractiveness is an important social issue in our culture, especially at this dating-frenzied time of year. The face is the most important factor in determining a person's physical attractiveness, with the mouth being one of the most important facial features. With all the advances in orthodontic treatments today, there's no reason you can't have a beautiful, if not perfect, smile.
"Today we can enhance 'face value' simply by remodeling someone's smile," said Lazzara. "Patients experience almost instantaneous results, helping to improve their self esteem. There's a whole new sparkle about them. Simply changing a smile has the ability to change a life."
Facial harmony, or the proportionate alignment of facial features, is an important element of attractiveness. If you have misaligned teeth or a gummy smile, the face is not initially viewed as a balanced unit; rather attention is drawn to these disproportionate areas. Orthodontic treatment aims at bringing teeth and jaws into harmonious position to improve overall facial aesthetics.
Many people assume if they don't have great teeth that they can make up for it in other areas, but Sunshine Jones, owner of Sunshine Jones Professional Make-up Artistry & Design, says without the foundation of a good smile, make-up and fashion become a moot point.
"Having nice teeth and smile works to your advantage, it's your first impression," said Jones. "Make-up can do a lot to improve one's appearance, but if you have bad teeth, it will only draw more attention to them."
In addition to creating a beautiful smile and contributing greatly to facial aesthetics, orthodontic treatments can reduce the risk of tooth decay and gum disease; decrease the risk of irregular or excessive tooth wear; help establish normal oral function related to chewing, breathing and speech; decrease the risk of dental trauma; and correct improper jaw relationships and reduce stress on the facial muscles and jaw joints.
A beautiful smile is an important asset, and people notice it. This year, taking the steps to ensure an award-winning smile will increase your chances for happiness for Valentine's days to come.