Self-Conscious About Your Smile? How to Take the First Step

Maybe you've learned to smile with your lips closed, or you step to the edge of group photos and hope nobody notices. Feeling self-conscious about your smile can shape how you laugh, talk and show up for the moments you care about. If that sounds familiar, you're in good company, and the feeling itself is a sign you're ready for a change. In this post we walk through where to start, what can change how you feel about your smile, and what your first visit to our New Haven dental office feels like.

Where to start when you feel self-conscious

The first step is a conversation, one where you get to say what's been bothering you and what you'd love to feel when you smile. Nothing about that conversation commits you to treatment. It simply gives you a clear picture of what's possible, so you can decide what to do next with real information in hand.

Most people who feel self-conscious about their smile are good candidates for some kind of cosmetic care. At your consultation we look at your teeth, your gums and your goals together, then tell you which treatments would make a difference.

Putting words to what bothers you

It helps to notice what you've been hiding. Before your visit, take a look at a few recent photos or spend a minute with a mirror, and jot down what catches your eye. You might notice the color of your teeth, a chipped edge, a small gap, teeth that overlap, or a gum line that looks uneven.

Your notes don't need to be clinical or complete. "I don't like how my front teeth look when I laugh" is a perfect place to begin, and it tells us far more about you than any chart could. We'll help you put the rest into words.

Options that can change how you feel

Once we know what's bothering you, we can talk through the treatments that fit. The ADA describes many common ways to improve a smile, and each of these options answers a different concern:

• Stained or dull teeth: teeth whitening, either in our office or with custom take-home trays, brightens your natural enamel.
• Chips and small gaps: cosmetic bonding uses a tooth-colored material shaped right onto your tooth.
• Uneven edges or gums: cosmetic contouring gently reshapes enamel, and a dental laser can even out your gum line.
• Color, shape and alignment together: porcelain veneers are thin, custom shells bonded to the front of your teeth.
• Crooked or crowded teeth: Invisalign clear aligners straighten your teeth gradually.

If more than one of these speaks to you, a smile makeover brings two or more treatments together into one plan designed around your face. And if a small change is all you need, that's what we'll recommend. We suggest only what will make a real difference for you.

How your first visit will feel

Walking into our office feels a lot like walking into a home, with color, art and a few whimsical touches, and you'll see the same familiar faces each time you visit. In our waiting room, a painting carries a message we mean every day: "Smile! You Deserve It."

Your consultation is a process we call co-discovery. You spend unhurried one-on-one time with our cosmetic dental assistant, our treatment coordinator and Dr. Lerch, talking through what you want and mapping out what's possible. There's a mirror in every room, so you can see what we're describing as we talk. We listen without judgment, you're a partner in every decision, and there's no pressure and no surprises. Where possible you go home with a concrete plan and pricing, so you can think it over in your own time.

Our aim is teeth that look like teeth. The smile we design with you should look like your own, only one you're happy to show. Dr. Lerch was one of the first women to be Accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and she brings more than 40 years of smile design to every plan she builds.

Taking the first step with us

If you've been waiting for the right moment to take a step toward the smile you want, this can be it. A consultation gives you answers and a plan, and you decide what happens next. If you'd like to see what's possible first, our smile gallery shows finished smiles from our New Haven, CT dental office.

Frequently asked questions

Am I a candidate for cosmetic dentistry?

If you feel self-conscious about your smile, you're very likely a candidate for some kind of cosmetic care. At your consultation we look at your teeth, gums and goals together, then tell you which treatments would help. The plan is built entirely around what you want to change and how you want to feel.

Do I have to decide on treatment at my first visit?

No. Your consultation is a no-pressure conversation, and you decide what happens next. We map out what's possible together, and where possible you go home with a concrete plan and pricing. You can take all the time you need to think it over before choosing anything.

What if I only want a small change?

Then a small change is what we'll recommend. Sometimes whitening, bonding a chip or gently reshaping an uneven edge is enough to help you feel great about your smile. We look at your whole smile and suggest only what will make a real difference, so you never do more than you need.

Is it normal to feel nervous about my first visit?

It's completely normal, and we'll help you feel at ease. Our office feels like a home, you'll see familiar faces, and we listen without judgment. You set the pace of the conversation, and you're welcome to ask every question on your mind before anything is decided about your smile.

Will people be able to tell I've had cosmetic work done?

Our whole philosophy is teeth that look like teeth. We match color, shape and proportion to your face, noting how your lips move and which teeth show when you smile, so your result looks natural. The goal is a smile that looks like your own on a very good day.

Your smile is worth talking about

You deserve to smile, laugh and talk without thinking about it. When you're ready to talk, call us at (203) 624-5256 or book your consultation. Our New Haven dental office is at 375 Orange St, two blocks from the New Haven Green, with free patient parking behind the building.

Published by Center for Esthetic Dentistry.