How a Smile Can Make or Break a Career

It’s that time of year again, when the days get longer, the grills get hotter and millions of parents across America experience the bittersweet emotions of watching their children graduate from high school and college. Graduation brings with it many new and exciting opportunities, like traveling abroad, choosing a major and entering the job market for the first time. What should be an exciting time in any young person’s life can often be marred with frustration and insecurity - especially if that young person is embarrassed or ashamed of their smile. That’s because in addition to causing its share of health issues, having a bad bite, broken or crooked teeth, or even noticeably missing teeth can harm people’s perception of you. It’s bad enough in social situations, but studies have shown that having a bad smile can also seriously hurt your career aspirations.

"Having bad teeth or gums can really distract you," says Dr. Alexandra George, a dentist who specializes in full-mouth dental reconstruction. "You’re trying to land your dream job but you keep wondering if the person interviewing you can see your teeth. Maybe you’re hesitant to smile and come across as unfriendly or you cover your mouth when you talk. It can be distracting to you and to the person interviewing you."

A recent study by the American Dental Association confirms that sentiment. The study, which was published in March 2017, found that 28 percent of millennials believe their unhealthy teeth harm their ability to interview for a job. And that’s just the interviewee. Another recent study by Kelton Research on behalf of Invisalign found that people with a healthy smile were 45 percent more likely to not just get a job, but to keep that job and obtain raises and promotions, too.

"Obviously nobody is coming out and saying, ‘Sorry, Susan, you didn’t get the job because your teeth are chipped,’ but there’s a subconscious element there that will cause employers to choose someone else with a nicer smile," George says.

Thankfully, there’s no need to resign yourself to a life of unemployment or an office in the basement. George says there are plenty of treatments that can fix your smile and boost your confidence - along with your job prospects.

According to George, there aren’t many dental problems that can’t be fixed nowadays. In fact, at her Wexford, Pennsylvania, practice, George has earned a reputation in the community as both a doctor and an artist, reconstructing smiles for everyone from teens to seniors.

"We do it all, from TMJ treatment to veneers, orthodontics and even dental implants," says George. "We can transform any smile and literally help you put your best face forward."