New Study Shows Great Smile Equals Happier Life

The smile is is the symbol that was rated with the highest positive emotional content. Once the smiling muscles in our face contract, there is a positive feedback loop that now goes back to the brain and reinforces our feeling of joy. To put it better:
“Smiling stimulates our brain’s reward mechanisms in a way that even chocolate, a well-regarded pleasure-inducer, cannot match.”

In short: our brain feels good and tells us to smile, we smile and tell our brain it feels good and so forth. And your brain keeps track of your smiles, kind of like a smile scorecard. It knows how often you've smiled and which overall emotional state you are in therefore.

Smiling reduces stress that your body and mind feel, similar to getting good sleep, according to recent studies. 

Smiling helps to generate more positive emotions within you. That’s why we often feel happier around children – they smile more. On average, they smile 400 times a day. Happy adults still smile 40-50 times a day but the average is half of that.
Why does this matter? Smiling leads to decrease in the stress-induced hormones that negatively affect your physical and mental health, say the latest studies.

The number one factor leading to an individual smiling more is it's appearance and their overall dental health. We naturally hide what we're embarrassed by. This leads to a negative feedback loop similar to the positive one listed above.

Want to change your life for the better in as fast a way as possible? Change your smile! You won't believe the overall impact is has on your life. Call us at (713) 781-2800. Financing is available.

                                Cosmetic Dental Associates  | Leading Houston Dental Practice 

Customize your teeth! Change your smile "LOOK". Molly can show you how.

Back in 1990 Dr. Davis did an extensive makeover project with a young lady named Molly. The goal was to show the variety of "looks" we offer to personalize your smile.

These exact same "looks" still apply today! We thought it would be interesting to visit Molly again after all these years plus remind people of the variety of smile makeovers that are possible with our practice.

1.  In the case of Molly Rentz, Dr. Davis started out with the "NATURAL LOOK" for her - "We just filled in the spaces," he explains.
2. Look number two is the "SPORTY LOOK". The cuspids are more pointed and the teeth are more square," Dr. Davis notes.
3. The "EXECUTIVE LOOK" calls for "harder lines, where the teeth are square and even, and you have a very full, Farrah Fawcett smile. Even is an older look."
4. For the final go-round, Dr. Davis gave Molly Rentz the "GLAMOUR LOOK "where the laterals are shorter, softer rounded … a more delicate smile," he says.

    

Typically, women want all their teeth the same length," says Dr. Davis. "When they come in, that's what they usually ask for, because models look that way. We tell them it's actually a more masculine look for most, but if that's what they want, no problem"

It was quite a project, but the photography session showed exactly how she looked with each type of bonding. Who said dentists never have any fun?

Today Molly is a lovely 39 year old lady living in the Houston area, enjoying a wonderful smile from CDA. We helped her and can do the same for you.

Call 713-781-2800. FINANCING IS AVAILABLE.


    Cosmetic Dental Associates | smile makeovers

ANNOUNCEMENT - The latest news from Cosmetic Dental Associates

Dear Friends and Family,                                                           Two years ago I made the decision that my practice had grown to the point that I needed to hire an associate doctor to ensure that I could continue to meet my goal of providing excellent oral health care, in a timely manner, with the best customer service possible. As you know, I am concerned about whom I like to work with and it is very important to me to have a quality oriented fun person.   It is like a marriage and of course I spend more waking time here at the office than I do at home, so this is vital. We have thoroughly enjoyed having Dr Magruder in our office and we will miss him for sure. His positive attitude and vibrant personality made him a real joy to be around and big asset to our staff. I know you join me in an enthusiastic best wishes for Dr. Magruder and a fond farewell. Dr Magruder is buying a practice in Galveston and is looking forward to fishing in the Galveston area.  The last year proved that having an associate in the office definitely helps me provide the high level of treatment and service that you deserve. Therefore, I would like for you to share in my excitement as I announce the addition of Dr Colt Riley as our new associate. Colt grew up in West Houston attending Second Baptist Church and graduating from Stratford High School.  He then attended The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Texas Dental School here in Houston receiving his DDS degree in May of this year. Dr. Riley is extremely personable and very bright.  Not to mention that he is 6’6” which would make any Texan proud.  I feel very fortunate to have found him to fill this role in our office.  I look forward to introducing him to you at your next visit. Please be assured that I have no plans to retire or slow down any time soon as I love being a dentist and I want to practice as long as I can.  Dr. Riley will be under my direct supervision on all treatment and we will discuss and design any treatment necessary.  Being right out of school he of course needs some patients.  If you know of anyone in need of excellent dental care please send them our way. I want to thank you for being part of our “dental family” and for the confidence you have shown in me and the support you have given my practice. The wonderful relationships I have been fortunate to build with my patients and their families are what I cherish most about my job. I look forward to many more years of practice and will continue to work hard to earn your trust and friendship as well as the trust of all the families yet to come.  We want to be the best dental team you have ever been to! Warmest Regards, Spiker

How much can teeth whitening help my smile?

There's no one standard system in the dental field to measure and determine tooth color. Nor is there an exact answer to how white your teeth can become-every person's situation is unique. One commonly used reference tool, however, is a shade guide.

One of the more common shade guides divides tooth color into four basic shade ranges:
Tooth Shades
A (reddish brown)
B (reddish yellow)
C (gray)
D (reddish gray)
A.Red - Brown

Within each range are different levels of darkness — which results in a chart detailed enough for almost everyone to find their exact tooth color on the guide.
To use such a guide, simply match your current tooth color to the corresponding color on the chart. This gives you a starting point as you determine how much whiter you'd like your teeth to be.

How white should your teeth become? That depends.
There's no one right way to whiten your teeth. Some people want an instant and dramatic change, while others prefer more gradual whitening such as the type that results from a whitening toothpaste or gel. Final results depend on your natural tooth color, how stubborn any stains are and the treatment you choose.

A change of just two or three shades can make a noticeable difference in just about anyone's smile. While whitening can occasionally change tooth color nine or more shades, the majority of people who whiten their teeth see a change of between two and seven shades.

Each procedure has its advantages and disadvantages. The most effective treatment is Laser whitening and other in-office bleaching procedures which may produce the most dramatic results.
                                       Cosmetic Dental Associates | Teeth Whitening

The power of a good smile.

Smiling plays a very important role in maintaining and improving your health, both physically and emotionally as discussed in a recent Wiki How article. As Phyllis Diller once said: A smile is a curve that sets everything straight, and the smile can help you to stand out, improve people's perception of your attractiveness and relieve any stress you might be experiencing. 

If you're still not convinced, there is evidence that those who smile often live an average of 7 years longer than those who rarely conjure a regular smile.

A fun way to improve your physical and mental well-being, the smile is free of charge and always available by choice and this article explores the ways you can smile to be healthy.

Stress is easily shown in our faces. Smiling prevents people from looking too tired or overwhelmed. When you're stressed, try to put on a smile, as it will make you feel happy, and you will appear happy. Your feelings of stress will be reduced as the Endorphins associated with smiling are erased and the infectiousness of your smile will help to make others happy. 

                           Cosmetic Dental Associates | Houston Dentist