John was a financial consultant. He announced his position when we first met. I never knew what “financial consultant” meant. He told me he helped people plan for their financial futures, make investments and manage risks. He was quite expressive. At age 47, he was well into his career.
“I’m looking for a boost. I’ve noticed how my best clients look and act. Since I sell insurance and financial services to them, I need to look like them. If I have country bumpkin teeth, then I’ll be seen as less competent. And they demand competence.
“Look, I know I’m very good at what I do and I know you are, too. A friend of a friend sent me here. I want my clients to feel good about dealing with me. I’ve studied all the books on sales and I have taken dozens of courses over the years. I know that how I look and what my smile says about me matters. Donald Trump may have kept his hair the same way, but he got his teeth fixed and now has a beautiful smile. I want one for me,” he finished.
He was right, of course. People first evaluate us by how we look. Sure clothes and hair matter, but your smile dominates their first impression. Studies show that other people make first impressions of us in as little as nine seconds. These first impressions are important because it is human nature to make evaluations about people we meet quickly. When you flash a good looking smile, your first impression rating goes up, way up.
John didn’t need nearly as much as the other patients told in stories here. He had taken pretty good care of his teeth. Still, many things were wearing out after twenty plus years of function. We whitened his teeth, did a few crowns in the back to strengthen broken down teeth, and placed conservative porcelain veneers in his smile zone. We removed the black, silver, mercury fillings that made him look a bit dark. We also realigned his bite that had gotten off over the years, much like tires get out of alignment, and then wear excessively.
All of that happened three years ago. Today John is an uber-successful financial consultant. He told me at one of his checkups, “Not only does my smile look great, but I feel so much better, so much more confident. It has helped my career. I’ve had my best three years ever in a row since you fixed me up.”
John had also lost weight because he could chew the right foods again. And since his family had a history of type II diabetes, his weight loss and better oral health may very well have headed off diabetes.
“When you told me about the relationship between oral health and diabetes, it was news to me. Now I’m grateful that we headed that off at the pass.”
Whenever I see John now, whether in the office or out and about at various charity functions, he’s always smiling.
“I love my smile. Thank you.”
Thank you, John, for allowing us to give you our best care.
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