Can cosmetic dentistry make you live longer? It seems like a silly question. After all, you would expect preventive care or gum disease treatment to be the source of increased longevity. But there actually is research that hints at a connection between cosmetic dentistry and increased longevity. Your Waco dentist, Dr. Corbet Locke, explores this research and lets you in on the secret of how cosmetic dentistry could add years to your life.
The Power of the Smile
It is well-documented that smiles have the power to transform our outlooks, moods, and attitudes. In fact, smiles could even be called contagious because people who smile often are able to improve the moods of those around them, thus encouraging them to smile. But did you know that there are actually two different types of smiles? The first type is called the Duchenne smile, and the second type is called the non-Duchenne smile. They differ mechanically in the use of the muscles surrounding the eyes and emotionally in the feelings they express.
A non-Duchenne smile does not involve the facial muscles around the eyes and is used as a means of appeasing someone else. A Duchenne smile uses the facial muscles around the eyes and expresses joy. According to recent research, people who frequently smile Duchenne smiles live longer.
Cosmetic Dentistry and Longevity
So how does a Duchenne smile connect to cosmetic dentistry? Well, it all starts with your attitude about your teeth. If you are unhappy with the way your teeth look, you are less likely to smile freely. You may often smile non-Duchenne smile. However, with cosmetic treatment to improve the look of your smile, you will be able to smile freely, proud of the teeth that you are displaying with your Duchenne smile.
Schedule an Appointment with Your Waco Dentist
Don’t let your teeth bring you down. Cosmetic treatment can give you the smile you have always wanted. Schedule an appointment or a consultation with your Waco dentist, Dr. Locke, today by calling 254-776-4888. Our 76172 dental office serves patients from Waco, Woodway, McGregor, Hewitt, and surrounding communities.