How much is a first impression worth to you? Do you have a first impression of someone that you wish you could retract for yourself? Have you ever met someone and thought something about them just based on your first encounter that took you multiple visits to change? First impressions are one of those enigma’s – you cannot pinpoint what it is exactly, but the cemented belief or perception of someone or something that became difficult to change.
My father, who has since passed away, gave me the best advice for my first job interview. He repeated this before my dental school interviews, and my orthodontic residency interviews, and even my interview for a job position at The Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. His advice was to smile. You may not have the right answer, or best answer. You may be stumped, or be nervous because you really want to attend this program or have this job, but remember to smile. No one can argue with your beautiful smile.
That advice is something I still remind myself daily. Personally, my bucket is so full, that often times my face demonstrates all the emotion I wear on the inside. I am transparent and anyone can read me like a wide open book printed in large font. However, my father was correct. No one can argue with a smile. Often we unconsciously – as vain as it is – make a judgement on a person based on the way their smile looks. Crooked teeth, yellow teeth, or missing teeth, we can make an opinion (and often is inaccurate) about a person’s social status, financial health, or whether they take care of themselves in terms of personal hygiene. It is not fair, and really sad, but the reality is that most of us do. I would argue that most of us would like to admit that we don’t but do.
To take away one of those false perceptions is easy – simply by visiting your dentist twice a year and keeping your oral health at the top of your priority list. Women can spend a fortune on beauty products or beauty adjuncts, and men can spend a fortune on their social hobbies. We pay for expensive cars, or streaming subscriptions, expensive coffee, our children’s sports, or their fancy shoes, name brand backpacks, whatever it is.
As a teenager, I grew up without money, and begged my parents to get me braces. I was the only one in my grade who seemed to have crooked teeth or didn’t have something to improve my smile. I would put a paperclip in my mouth over the front of my teeth to pretend like they were getting worked on. Not a joke! So when your child is asking for braces, perhaps ask them why. And maybe if you are lucky they will give you an honest answer and perhaps they feel self conscious about their smile.
The number of adults who seek treatment in our practice is very high. We treat a large adult population and many adults feel they didn’t have treatment as a child because their teeth weren’t that bad. Or perhaps they did have treatment and had some growth or shifting and now want to enhance it. There is a reason we care so much about our teeth and our smile. Whether it is good or bad, it is real and an investment worth making.
QUESTION: Is it too late to invest in my smile?
ANSWER: Whether you are seeking treatment for your child, or yourself, it is never too late to invest in your smile. We recommend every child to be evaluated by an orthodontist by the age of 7 or 8. Most children will not need treatment at this age, but many large orthodontic or growth problems can be identified at this age. Also we have patients who are in their 80’s believe it or not so it is never too late!
QUESTION: I have heard orthodontics is expensive.
ANSWER: The cost of orthodontic treatment does vary by region. The price in New York City will be very different from the cost in Canton GA. Also the price is more when you seek treatment with an orthodontic specialist than with a general dentist. The reason for this is the additional education, training, and often board certification that becoming a specialist entails. There is surely an option for everyone. Experience also plays a role. Most specialists can provide a comprehensive case fee for less than a car payment per month, or close to your average cell phone bill monthly. It is very affordable and many practitioners can help with in house financing or payment plans.
QUESTION: My child had treatment once before, why do they need treatment again?
ANSWER: Some children (but not most) need what we call an early-interceptive or intervention approach, and often we educate our patients that if this occurs they will likely need additional treatment when they are older. This may be due to their growth potential, excessive crowding, early loss of baby teeth, or many other interceptive techniques that are needed. Often these cases may be challenging, and when a child undergoes puberty, often another phase of treatment is recommended, but not always necessary. The big silver lining is that often times, these cases end up being the best looking cases that we have.
QUESTION: If I chose not to do treatment, it’s not important because it’s all cosmetic right?
ANSWER: It is true that no-one (at least that we know of) has died from having crooked teeth or a poor bite or growth relationship of their oro-facial structures. However there could be some problems that occur due to having a poor bite relationship and or jaw relationship. These include but are not limited to: gingival recession, jaw pain (TMJ/TMD), sleep issues, wearing of the teeth, early loss of permanent teeth, poor position of permanent teeth, crossbites, tongue thrust or poor tongue habits, narrow maxilla and nasal floor, continuation of habits like thumb sucking or mouth breathing, etc.
QUESTION: My dentist will tell me if I need braces.
ANSWER: Yes we absolutely hope that your dentist will recommend treatment if needed. However, the best way to determine if you need orthodontic treatment is to visit your local orthodontist for a complimentary consultation. Most of the orthodontists in our area offer this exam without cost. Remember an orthodontist is a trained dentist that specializes in this field. They are often trained an additional 2-3 years to diagnose and see these problems better than anyone else in the field. Although we have amazing dentists in our area, not all of them are trained or feel comfortable diagnosing some of these problems as well as your orthodontist. But absolutely they will tell you if orthodontic treatment is recommended, but if they don’t tell you it may not mean that treatment isn’t recommended.
Dr. Andy Kragor is a Georgia native and board-certified orthodontist serving Woodstock and surrounding areas. He and his wife lead a family-focused practice offering expert care, including braces, Invisalign, and craniofacial orthodontics.
Whether you're 18 or 80, a strong smile is secret weapon—boosting confidence, commanding presence, and showing the world you take pride in yourself.
You never get a second chance to make a first impression—so make yours unforgettable with a smile that speaks louder than words and shines brighter than any introduction.