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Can a New Smile Make You Look More Intelligent and Successful?

Authors:
  • Beall Research

Abstract

A smile has a tremendous impact on perceptions of one's attractiveness and one's personality. Previous psychological research has shown that attractive people are perceived as more successful, intelligent, and friendly. Research extends these findings by demonstrating that teeth alone can have an impact on overall attractiveness and perceptions of personality attributes. The results of the study discussed in this article extend the attractiveness research and demonstrate that one's smile is an important part of the physical attractiveness stereotype. One's smile clearly plays a significant role in the perception that others have of our appearance and our personality.
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Consumer Studies
Can a new smile make you appear more successful and
intelligent?
Previous consumer studies have proved that a beautiful smile will make you more attractive. But according
to research conducted by Beall Research & Training of Chicago, a new smile will make you appear more
intelligent, interesting, successful and wealthy to others as well.
Dr. Anne Beall, a social psychologist and market research professional carried out the indepe
ndent study on
behalf of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). Pictures of eight individuals were shown to
528 Americans, a statistically valid cross section of the population. The respondents were asked to quickly
judge the eight people as to
how attractive, intelligent, happy, successful in their career, friendly, interesting,
kind, wealthy, popular with the opposite sex, and sensitive to other people they were.
Two sets of photos were created, with each set showing four individuals before undergoing cosmetic
dentistry, and four after treatment. Half the respondents viewed set A, the other half set B. The eight
subjects viewed by respondents were evenly divided by gender. Two had mild improvements through
cosmetic dentistry, two had moderate improvements, and four had major improvements to their smiles, to
give a wide range for respondents to view. None, however, had visibly rotten teeth, missing teeth or
catastrophically bad dental health in the before shots. Respondents were not told that they were looking at
dentistry, but were asked to make snap judgments rating each person for the ten characteristics, on a scale
of one to ten, with “one” being “not at all,” and “ten” being “extremely.”
The results indicated that an attractive smile does have broad ranging benefits:
Characteristic Average
“Before” rating
“After” rating
Increase
Attractive 4.6 5.9 1.3
Intelligent 5.9 6.5 .6
Happy 6.2 6.8 .4
Successful in their career 5.8 6.7 .9
Friendly 6.3 6.8 .5
Interesting 5.4 6.1 .7
Kind 6.0 6.4 .4
Wealthy 4.9 5.9 1.0
Popular with the opposite sex 5.0 6.2 1.2
Sensitive to other people 5.6 6.1 .5
While the change was most dramatic for Attractive, Popular with the opposite sex, Wealthy and Successful
in their career, the change was statically significant in all areas.
Below are some before and after images that were used in the above study.
In an independent study conducted on behalf of the AACD in 2004, we discovered:
Virtually all Americans (99.7%) believe a smile is an important social asset.
96% of adults believe an attractive smile makes a person more appealing to members of the opposite sex.
Three-quarters (74%) of adults feels an unattractive smile can hurt a person's chances for career success.
When asked, "What is the first thing you notice in a person's smile?" The most common responses were:
Straightness
Whiteness & Color of Teeth
Cleanliness of Teeth
Sincerity of Smile
Any Missing Teeth?
Sparkle of Smile
And when asked, "What types of things do you consider make a smile unattractive?" The most common
responses were:
Discolored, Yellow, or Stained Teeth
Missing Teeth
Crooked Teeth
Decaying Teeth & Cavities
Gaps & Spaces in Teeth
Dirty Teeth
And finally, when respondents were asked, "What would you most like to improve about your smile?" The
most common response was:
Whiter & Brighter Teeth
... One of the most salient characteristics observable from static facial images is attractiveness [44][45][46] . Substantial evidence suggests a tendency to associate attractiveness with other positive qualities 44,[47][48][49] , such as intelligence 50 , academic and work performance 51 , and competence 44 . In laboratory experiments, attractive people are often perceived as more cooperative 52,53 and receive more money in the dictator game 54 . ...
... All (#20) 50 www.nature.com/scientificreports/ Column 1 combines data from both treatment conditions. ...
... This aligns with research suggesting that age and dimorphism are related to beauty 58,[62][63][64]91 . Attractive individuals enjoy advantages in human social interactions 50,97 and are generally seen as more cooperative 23,52 . Facial asymmetry also consistently biased judgments, with more asymmetrical faces being judged as less cooperative. ...
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Humans display a remarkable tendency to cooperate with strangers; however, identifying prospective cooperation partners accurately before entering any new relationship is essential to mitigate the risk of being exploited. Visual appearance, as inferrable, for example, from facial images on job portals and dating sites, may serve as a potential signal of cooperativeness. This experimental study examines whether static images enable the correct detection of an individual’s propensity to cooperate. Participants first played the Prisoner’s Dilemma (PD) game, a standard cooperation task. Subsequently, they were asked to predict the cooperativeness of participants from a prior PD study relying solely on their static facial photographs. While our main results indicate only marginal accuracy improvements over random guessing, a more detailed analysis reveals that participants were more successful at identifying cooperative tendencies similar to their own. Despite no detectable main effect in our primary treatment variations (time pressure versus time delay), participants exhibited increased accuracy in identifying male cooperators under time pressure. These findings point towards a limited yet nuanced role of static facial images in predicting cooperativeness, advancing our understanding of non-behavioral cues in cooperative interactions.
... This shift reflects a growing recognition of aesthetics's integral role in a patient's overall well-being [6]. The smile, in particular, is universally regarded as the most significant physical feature influencing perceptions of attractiveness and self-esteem across both genders [7][8][9]. Notably, dental aesthetics is not a new trend; its roots can be traced back to ancient times when the appearance of teeth was valued alongside health. Across cultures and centuries, the smile has been universally regarded as a significant physical feature influencing perceptions of attractiveness and self-esteem [10]. ...
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Background: Digital diagnostic waxing is a contemporary alternative to the conventional wax-up method. This study aims to evaluate the impact of both techniques on the perceived frontal symmetry in aesthetic treatment planning. Dental symmetry significantly influences smile perception and, consequently, the acceptance of treatment outcomes, highlighting its clinical importance in restorative dentistry. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 teeth were measured, with 50 (n = 50) waxed up using traditional modeling techniques and 50 using a face-guided digital approach. The study involved ten patients requiring fixed restorations in the aesthetic zone. Both digital and conventional wax-ups were performed for each participant. Gypsum models with wax-ups were digitized and superimposed onto the digital diagnostic design using 3Shape Dental Designer Studio software, Version 2023 (3Shape, Copenhagen, Denmark). Screenshots of the frontal view were captured, and the width of each morphologically altered tooth was measured using ImageJ software Version 1.54 (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA). Results: The results indicated no statistically significant difference in symmetry between the right and left sides achieved by the two diagnostic approaches (t-value = −1.89, p-value = 0.07). The perceived symmetry of morphologically modified frontal teeth, as achieved by digital and conventional waxing, was found to be comparable. Conclusions: Digital diagnostic planning is validated as a reliable alternative to the conventional wax-up method, offering comparable accuracy in achieving dental symmetry while potentially enhancing efficiency and precision in the aesthetic treatment planning process. This result underscores the potential of digital technologies to streamline clinical workflows and improve patient outcomes. Clinically, achieving symmetry in the aesthetic zone is crucial for patient satisfaction and acceptance of restorative procedures, emphasizing the need for continued integration of digital tools in dental practice.
... Whether a doctor is perceived as competent, and therefore a good source of medical advice, their teeth are used as an indicator. Doctors with whiter teeth are perceived as more competent and more broadly, in general people with whiter and straighter teeth are assigned more positive traits like attractiveness, career success and intelligence (Beall, 2007;Khalid & Quiñonez, 2015). A partial explanation of why white teeth are so desirable is that several disease and conditions like "metabolic diseases, systemic conditions, tooth decay, medications, staining, result in the discolouration of teeth" (Watts & Addy, 2001). ...
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The correlation between female attractiveness, including facial attractiveness, and career success has been evaluated multiple times. However, it was either declared as uninteresting or approached with a deviating focus, not taking industries, hierarchy levels, and promotions into account. This paper addresses the research question of how a woman's facial attractiveness affects her probability of being promoted into a leadership position in Austria in the 21st century and how the relevance of facial attractiveness on career success varies between industries. Empirical research to answer the posed research questions was conducted in the form of focus group discussions due to the high complexity and diversity of the topic. Through this research, academic knowledge on the influence of the factor “industry” in the relationship between women's facial attractiveness and their career success is furthered. Key findings reveal a significant positive effect of perceived high facial attractiveness of women on hiring decisions, while no effect on increased chances of promotion for women could be observed across different industries. Furthermore, the relevance of facial attractiveness varies drastically between the service and technical industries.
... Although presenting a small amount of gingiva (1 mm-2 mm) is esthetically acceptable and sometimes results in a more youthful appearance, excessive gingival display at the time of smiling generates an esthetic inconvenience for many individuals, even modifying their perception and psychosocial behavior. The perception of excessive gingival display is subject to cultural and ethnic preferences, showing that the amount of gingival display found to be unaesthetic or excessive is relative and changes between men and women, as well as between professionals; an example of this is the different perspective found in the USA where an exposure of more than 2-3 mm is considered unaesthetic, while in certain European countries a gingival exposure of up to 4 mm or more is allowed (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18). ...
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Introduction: gummy smile is defined as a non-pathological condition that causes aesthetic disharmony in which more than 3 mm of gingival tissue is present when smiling. The smile is an essential aesthetic component of the face and significantly determines the perception of beauty and personality of each person. Objective: to detail the current information related to the gingival smile, description, etiology, epidemiology, evaluation, treatment and prognosis. Methodology: a total of 42 articles were analyzed in this review, including review and original articles, as well as clinical cases, of which 34 bibliographies were used because the other articles were not relevant to this study. The sources of information were PubMed, Google Scholar and Cochrane; the terms used to search for information in Spanish, Portuguese and English were: gingival smile, gingival hyperplasia, maxillary excess, orthognathic surgery. Results: Gummy smile presents a prevalence between 10.5% and 29% of young adults, being more frequent in women, and this prevalence is reduced with age due to the drooping of the upper and lower lips, which reduces the exposure of the gingiva and upper incisors. The perception of excessive gingival display is subject to cultural and ethnic preferences, showing that the amount of gingiva presented that is found to be unaesthetic or excessive is relative and changes between men and women. Conclusions: the smile is a common human expression that represents multiple feelings, as well as an essential esthetic component of the face and significantly determines the perception of beauty and personality of each person. The gummy smile is a non-pathological condition that causes aesthetic disharmony in which more than 3 mm of gingival tissue is present when smiling. A gummy smile can usually have repercussions in the perception and psychosocial behavior of the affected individual. The etiology of the gummy smile presents several factors, which usually manifest themselves at the same time. Treatment should be targeted according to the origin of the condition. Among the less invasive treatment alternatives are botulinum toxin injection and hyaluronic acid injection. The surgical repertoire includes gingivectomy, modified lip repositioning and orthognathic surgery. KEY WORDS: gummy smile, gingival hyperplasia, maxilla, orthognathic surgery.
... One of the major etiologic factors contributing to gummy smiles is the anatomic position of the teeth and jaws. Individuals with a short upper lip, a high-positioned jaw, or a tendency to make gummy smiles are more likely to exhibit excessive gingival display [6][7][8]. Additionally, certain orthodontic conditions, such as deep or vertical maxillary overbite, can cause a gummy smile [2,9]. ...
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A gummy smile, defined as excessive gingival exposure while smiling, is an esthetic and functional condition affecting an individual’s quality of life. Despite its prevalence and impact, the classification and treatment of the gummy smile remain challenging in clinical practice. The problem lies in (1) the fact that the etiology of this pathology is multifactorial, and these factors sometimes go unnoticed, (2) the lack of consensus on the classification criteria, which, together, create (3) challenges in designing an optimal treatment plan for each patient. This article reviews the etiologic factors of this condition as the main basis for understanding the existing classifications of the gummy smile. It highlights the importance of muscle dynamics in the genesis and treatment of this clinical condition. We present a new, treatment-oriented classification that integrates the muscle hyperactivity present within the classification criteria and explore the implication of this interaction in the design of effective treatments. The ultimate goal of this present work is to improve the clinical understanding of the gingival smile and offer more personalized treatment strategies, through a more complete classification.
... Slight variations in the length, shape, and contour of the teeth are often associated with sex and agerelated characteristics. 11 In crafting ideal smiles, dentists tailor the shape of the teeth to complement the patient's gender: square shapes are often associated with masculinity, whereas rounded shapes convey femininity. Additionally, teeth exhibit distinct features associated with aging or youthfulness, such as variations in the size of the incisal edge, well-defined incisal embrasures, and the degree of tooth display when the mouth is relaxed and slightly open. ...
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The term "Hollywood smile" refers to a dental aesthetic characterized by impeccably white, straight, and perfectly aligned teeth, often associated with the glamorous appearance of celebrities. Besides its cosmetic appeal, this type of smile embodies confidence, youthfulness, and beauty, emerging as a globally sought-after standard for dental aesthetics. Achieving the Hollywood smile typically involves cosmetic dental procedures such as teeth whitening, veneers, dental bonding, and orthodontic treatments aimed at creating a symmetrical and radiant smile. This review article delves into the methods, technological advancements, and artistic principles employed to craft captivating smiles seen on magazine covers and in movies. Furthermore, it may explore the psychological and cultural dimensions of smile aesthetics, examining why the pursuit of the perfect smile holds such significance in our society. Essentially, it serves as a comprehensive guide for those interested in the intersection of dentistry, aesthetics, and the influence of popular culture.
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The smile has a very significant role in the life of an individual for a variety of reasons, including their health, psychological well-being, and social and emotional connections. Hence, it is of utmost important to understand the factors that help or harm the attractiveness of a smile to create an attractive smile. Excessive gingival display (EGD ) or gummy smile is considered an unesthetic factor before dental professional and common public. This case report describes a case of EGD in an individual in his twenties who was in the completion stage of his orthodontic treatment. Patient complained of unsatisfactory smile due to his gingival exposure. On clinical examination, the patient had an EGD of 8 mm. The patient was not willing for orthodontic management; hence, the patient was managed by a less invasive approach using modified lip repositioning technique. The patient was satisfied with the overall treatment outcome and experience.
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Demonstrates that the physical attractiveness stereotype established by studies of person perception is not as strong or general as suggested by the often-used summary phrase what is beautiful is good. Although Ss in these studies ascribed more favorable personality traits and more successful life outcomes to attractive than unattractive targets, the average magnitude of this beauty-is-good effect was moderate, and the strength of the effect varied considerably from study to study. Consistent with the authors' implicit personality theory framework, a substantial portion of this variation was explained by the specific content of the inferences that Ss were asked to make: The differences in Ss' perception of attractive and unattractive targets were largest for indexes of social competence; intermediate for potency, adjustment, and intellectual competence; and near zero for integrity and concern for others. The strength of the physical attractiveness stereotype also varied as a function of other attributes of the studies, including the presence of individuating information. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
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Meta-analysis was used to examine findings in 2 related areas: experimental research on the physical attractiveness stereotype and correlational studies of characteristics associated with physical attractiveness. The experimental literature found that physically attractive people were perceived as more sociable, dominant, sexually warm, mentally healthy, intelligent, and socially skilled than physically unattractive people. Yet, the correlational literature indicated generally trivial relationships between physical attractiveness and measures of personality and mental ability, although good-looking people were less lonely, less socially anxious, more popular, more socially skilled, and more sexually experienced than unattractive people. Self-ratings of physical attractiveness were positively correlated with a wider range of attributes than was actual physical attractiveness. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
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Common maxims about beauty suggest that attractiveness is not important in life. In contrast, both fitness-related evolutionary theory and socialization theory suggest that attractiveness influences development and interaction. In 11 meta-analyses, the authors evaluate these contradictory claims, demonstrating that (a) raters agree about who is and is not attractive, both within and across cultures; (b) attractive children and adults are judged more positively than unattractive children and adults, even by those who know them; (c) attractive children and adults are treated more positively than unattractive children and adults, even by those who know them; and (d) attractive children and adults exhibit more positive behaviors and traits than unattractive children and adults. Results are used to evaluate social and fitness-related evolutionary theories and the veracity of maxims about beauty.
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This study considered the relationship between physical attractiveness and income attainment based on evidence from a national sample of employed Canadians. The findings suggest that attractive respondents earned higher annual salaries than less attractive respondents. Controls on a variety of other variables suggest that this relationship held for men, older respondents, and those engaged in occupations primarily filled by men. Women, younger respondents, and those working in jobs largely performed by women tended not to gain any significant economic return from greater physical attractiveness.
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It is commonly believed that attractive people are more successful, but the empirical support for this belief is mixed. A number of role-playing, laboratory studies have demonstrated that more attractive men are more often hired, but the laboratory data for women are less consistent. Few studies have explored the effects of attractiveness on actual hiring and starting salaries for men or women. Even less work has been done on the impact of attractiveness once on the job. It was predicted that there would be positive effects for attractiveness and that the effects would be stronger as people worked longer on their jobs. To test this prediction, a sample of 737 male and female MBA graduates from the years between 1973 and 1982 was used to explore how facial attractiveness relates to starting and later salaries. Results indicated that more attractive men had higher starting salaries and they continued to earn more over time. For women, there was no effect of attractiveness for starting salaries, but more attractive women earned more later on in their jobs. By 1983, men were found to earn 2600moreontheaverageforeachunitofattractiveness(ona5pointscale)andwomenearned2600 more on the average for each unit of attractiveness (on a 5-point scale) and women earned 2150 more. Implications for research in this area are discussed.
Harvard University; 1977. [Cited by E Berscheid in: An Overview of the psychological effects of physical attractiveness and some comments upon the psychological effects of knowledge of the effects of physical attractiveness
  • Sm Kalick
  • Plastic
  • Surgery
Kalick SM. Plastic Surgery, physical appearance and person perception [Unpublished doc-toral dissertation]. Harvard University; 1977. [Cited by E. Berscheid in: An Overview of the psychological effects of physical attractiveness and some comments upon the psychological effects of knowledge of the effects of physical attractiveness. In: Lucker W, Ribbens K, & McNamera JA, Editors. Logical aspects of facial form. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1981].