10 Sep 2020
With so many businesses closing down or in lockdown, it’s hard to know who is open for work as a Covid Dentist in Melbourne. Hawthorn East Dental are open for essential dental work by appointment so feel free to call us if your dental work cannot wait.
As Dentists who look to improve the smiles of others and take great care in providing optimal dental health care and advice, we know there are lessons to be learned from the importance of a smile and the impact of masks.
Linking Masks to Social Recognition and Smiling
It’s highly probable you’ve noticed a difference in interactions with others since wearing a face mask during covid restrictions.
Previously, you could ‘read’ people’s faces and perhaps even gauge their mood. Now, you don’t know much about how they are feeling or how they might interact with you, or if they do even want to interact at all. We cannot send a smile nor receive one.
You may even find yourself making less eye contact and greeting people less when out and about. Wearing a mask makes voices sound muffled and as a result, less people may be greeting others or talking with others.
The Research on Smiles
There have been various research papers written on smiles / cosmetic appearance of teeth and the how this correlates with social interactions. Our ability to freely smile confidently, does have an impact on how people interact with us. So, what wearing a mask teaches us is the importance of your smile and the greater impact it has on our well-being.
If we are conscious of smiling due to crooked teeth or other dental health issues then we may also find that we are not being our best.
While there has been research conducted to show how different smiles are ‘read’ by others, (lip height, horizontal smile extension, gum line and teeth line) a confident smile is positive for yourself and those you interact with.
How Hawthorn East Dental Helps as a Covid Dentist Melbourne
Wearing a mask is similar to not smiling freely and openly. If you are concerned about the appearance of your teeth; whether it be cracks, tooth colour (tooth stains), crooked or gappy teeth including missing teeth then there are cosmetic dentistry options available. The visual message of a mask may be equated to the visual message of not smiling. Let Hawthorn East Dental help you unmask your beautiful smile and improve your interactions with others.
