If you have a job or career in the Omaha area, you should know that the better you look, the more confident you feel, and the more you earn. 

It’s no secret that when your smile is radiant, when your teeth are straight and white, when your facial appearance is attractive, you can create a welcoming first impression. The “million-dollar smile” achieved with cosmetic dental services offered by Omaha dentist, Dr. Kenneth Henley, could be taken literally for executives–because that’s how much the perfect smile from cosmetic dentistry could help them earn because of it.

Recent research shows a connection between how much is in your paycheck and your appearance – including your smile (a direct result of the general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry you receive). A study released by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis found that more attractive people earned 5% more over their lifetimes than their less good-looking counterparts.  For an executive earning $75,000 a year in Omaha in 2008, with a 30-year career in front of them, an investment in cosmetic dentistry could accumulate to a difference of $250,000 to $350,000 over their career.

That will make even those who pride themselves on not succumbing to the vanity of cosmetic dentistry sit up and take notice. From the research, it appears that investing in cosmetic dentistry in Omaha is as good or better than putting money in top-performing mutual funds.

Just about everybody would agree that a dazzling smile is an important social asset, according to the results of a survey commissioned by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. But, if you’re in the business of business, you should note that 74 percent of those surveyed also said an unattractive smile can hurt a person’s chances for career success.

If you’re self-conscious about your smile, your job performance may suffer. Yet if your smile is bright and genuine, chances are you exude confidence and good cheer, which makes you easily approachable and pleasant for business transactions.

The truth is, however, that few people are blessed with perfect smiles. And luckily, you don’t have to be a high-earning executive to afford a million-dollar smile. With the latest advances in cosmetic dentistry, including smile whitening, straightening or replacing teeth, many cosmetic dentistry procedures can be completed in two or three visits.

To read more about Cosmetic Dentistry at Armbrust Dental, Click HERE.

The most common cause of toothache, or pain in the region of the jaws and face, is pulpitis – inflammation of the pulp of the tooth. The short, sharp pains usually occur in response to hot, cold or sweet stimuli. 

If left untreated, the pulp dies and becomes infected, leading to the formation of a dental abscess. The pain from a dental abscess tends to be in response to pressure on the tooth, and is throbbing and continuous. 

What causes toothache? 

•  Dental decay.
•  A fracture of the tooth.
•  A cracked tooth. This may be invisible and so can be difficult to diagnose.
•  An exposed tooth root, which can occur if the gums recede or are damaged by over-vigorous brushing.

The following problems can also cause symptoms similar to toothache, even though the teeth themselves may be free of disease:

•  an abscess in the gum (lateral periodontal abscess).
•  ulceration of the gums (acute ulcerative gingivitis).
•  ulceration of the soft tissues can sometimes be mistaken for toothache.
•  inflammation of the gum around a tooth which is in the process of growing/breaking through (pericoronitis).

 inflammation of the sinuses (sinusitis) can be mistaken for toothache in the upper jaw. 

It is worth remembering that the nerves supplying the teeth sometimes give the wrong message to the brain. This means that, although you feel pain in a particular tooth, the problem may actually be in a different tooth – even one located in the opposite jaw.

To get a date with Mister or Miss Right, 84 percent of adults perceive having an attractive smile as important, according to a survey conducted by Harris Interactive. This poll of 1,000 American adults between the ages of 18 and 50 years found that more than one-third would not be likely to set up their best friend on a blind date with someone with bad teeth. One-third would not be likely to kiss someone with bad teeth. An overwhelming majority–85 percent–considers a person’s smile to be very or somewhat important when meeting someone for the first time. Almost 9 out 10 Americans polled said they thought people with good teeth are more attractive. Among many factors, this poll explored the importance of smiles in the social arena, as well as dating and marriage.

Fortunately, improving a smile is now more accessible than ever because cosmetic dentistry is available to just about everyone. Even the subtlest change in your smile can make a dramatic difference in the way you look and feel about yourself, and the way others perceive you. Talk to your cosmetic dentist and ask about white fillings, teeth whitening, dental bonding, dental crowns and dental veneers. Then sit back in your chair and wait for your new life to begin.