Years ago, I had a girlfriend from Japan who, while quite attractive, had some serious problems with her teeth. That's actually pretty common in Japan, and there is even a name for what she had, yaeba. It means that she had one or more teeth that stuck out towards her lips. This isn't like an overbite or an under-bite, this is literally a tooth the sticks out, on its own, at a bad angle.
Girls with yaeba usually don't like to show their teeth when they smile, and will either clinch their mouths shut when they laugh or cover their mouths with their hands. Until recently, cosmetic dentistry wasn't common in Japan, so for a lot of women, they didn't really get that taken care of until they visited the United States or some other country that is more progressive in their cosmetic dental care. That seems to be changing, however, because cosmetic dentistry also has a health application.
Aside from self esteem and appearance issues, cosmetic dentistry helps bring the teeth into alignment, which prevents unnatural wear and tear. When the teeth meet together properly they have a much better chance of surviving the lifetime of the patient, and oral health is directly connected to cardiovascular well-being.
As far as collateral health, both mental and physical, having a smile that one isn't ashamed to show might also mean that a patient will be more outgoing, more likely to participate in activities that will lead to better physical fitness, and far more confident. That confidence can translate into greater success in school, on the job, and when finding a life partner.
In the case of my girlfriend, she had her yaeba removed, along with a few other teeth, and then had braces put on her teeth. Once the braces were removed, she had her teeth whitened and began using a retainer to keep her smile exactly the way she had it remade. No use in spending all that money to let things fall into a new state of disrepair. That was several years ago, and after we split up, we remained good friends.
We've not seen each other in years, but the last time I saw her, the smile was still in tact. I think she may have moved to Boston, and if she has, I'm sure she has employed the services of a Boston cosmetic dentistry. After all, it would only be in her best interests.
Author Resource:-
Whiteman Dental (http://www.whitemandental.com/) Boston cosmetic dentistry is a full service dental practice. Art Gib is a freelance writer.
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