Don’t Ignore Dental Appearance When Polishing Your Image for a Job Search
If you are among the many current job-seekers over 40 years old, you are probably especially sensitive to your need to take new initiatives to put your best foot forward, on paper and in person. A good resume may get you in the door, but your appearance and your presentation skills will make the difference whether you stay inside.
For many women, and an increasing number of men, sharpening their overall “image” n translates into improving grooming, sometimes by cosmetic surgery. Usually overlooked by job applicants doing makeovers, however, is dental appearance.
Today, mature men looking for new positions find themselves competing with younger candidates. To stay in the game they’ve started to realize that looks count. Employers want to select from prospects with a vital, alert appearance. Whatever you can do to make yourself look “younger” will always work to your benefit.
Some people spend considerable money and time creating a new, youthful and vital look for themselves only to have it betrayed by teeth that reveal “old age.” Realize that over time, teeth age like everything else. A youthful appearance can be compromised by damaged or aging teeth. Teeth chip, they crack, they become stained. These dental ravages of age can be corrected through some simple procedures such as whitening, reshaping/recontouring, or placing porcelain laminate veneers. The laminate veneers, for example, can radically alter the color and shape of the teeth with either no reduction or minimal reduction of existing tooth. These procedures can be done in one or two visits and often go far to help build a person’s self-confidence.
About a decade ago, I recall treating a man who was a manager with a Wall Street firm who said he had spent more than 30 years restraining himself from smiling because his irregularly shaped teeth and unattractive smile had caused him embarrassment as a youngster. People thought this guy was a sourpuss. Once we improved his smile, he became much more relaxed and he called me months later to say that his colleagues and supervisors had commented on the positive “change” in his whole personality.
You may not realize how much attention other people pay to your mouth when you’re talking. Poor dental health is not only unattractive, but indicates a carelessness in personal grooming that is not helpful to a job applicant.
My website, drpaultanners.com, includes a collection of photographs showing men and women before and after what I call their “smile rehabilitation.” Reaction to a person’s smile functions on an almost subconscious level. A healthy appearance helps create a positive rapport that can lead to a more successful job interview.
Job-seekers looking to improve their dental appearance are invited for a no-obligation consultation. Please feel free to contact me at 515 Madison Avenue, Suite 1212, New York 10022 (212) 697-1122; drpaultanners.com.
Paul Tanners, D.D.S., is a prosthodontist with more than 35 years experience, and is a former member of the Board of Directors of the NYU College of Dentistry.
