A nice smile can be just as important to getting a new job as a well-written resume or a killer referral.

We all know first impressions matter regardless of the context. Whether you’re applying for a job or meeting someone socially for the first time, how they perceive you in those first few minutes are absolutely crucial.

With job interviews, a nice smile was ranked as the third most important thing recruiters noticed. Those who didn’t smile, or had a smile with problems, were less likely to get the role than those who smiled frequently and had a pleasant smile.

Key Smile Statistics

•  Approximately one third of people say the first thing they notice about someone’s face is their smile.

•  Approximately one quarter of people say that a nice smile sticks in their minds long after first meeting someone.

•  Almost half of people say they believe someone with a straight smile is more likely to get a job over equally qualified applicants.

•  Almost two thirds of people say that straight teeth make someone look more competent or successful.

•  People with straight, nice smiles are almost two thirds more likely to be considered attractive.

•  Over 30% of Americans wouldn’t go on a second date with someone with bad teeth.

•  People with nice smiles are 20% more likely to be seen as friendly.

•  People with nice smiles are 40% more likely to be seen as competent and intelligent.

•  People with nice smiles are 75% more likely to be seen as trustworthy.

As you can see, we place a great deal of importance on the appearance of people’s smiles. Having a nice smile will immediately put most recruiters at ease, and give the impression that you are a competent, trustworthy person who cares about themselves.

But most of these statistics are fairly general. After all, there are many things which make a smile “nice” or “pleasant”.

The story actually becomes worse if we focus in on people who are missing teeth.

A study first published in 2008 sought to analyse people’s perceptions of those missing upper front teeth. They were shown five images with various amounts of upper teeth missing, from none up to four missing front teeth. Participants were asked to rate them on a number of social traits, such as attractiveness, educational attainment, aggressiveness, dating, and likelihood to live as a neighbor.

Their findings were pretty clear. The people missing teeth were consistently rated poorly compared to the photos of people with full sets of teeth.

This was especially true of those metrics which rated them on a personal level - things like dating and being a neighbor. Participants really didn’t want much to do with the people missing teeth.

Dental Implants to Restore Teeth and Land the Job

Missing teeth are clearly a great barrier to landing a new job. You either refuse to smile to hide the teeth, making yourself seem less friendly and approachable, or you reveal the missing teeth, running into deep social stigmas.

The best way to replace missing teeth is through dental implants.

Dental implants allow a dentist to replace one or more missing teeth from the root up. The implant acts as an artificial tooth root, on which a restoration can be placed.

When replacing a single tooth, a dental crown goes on top of the implant. This creates the closest approximation to a natural tooth possible with modern dentistry technology.

Several teeth in a row can be replaced by an implant-supported bridge. Say you’re missing three of your front upper teeth. These can all be replaced by a single restoration supported by a single implant.

Dental implants afford patients:

•  Superior esthetic results

•  Superior support for the restoration

•  Longer-lasting restorations

•  Bone volume support. Because the implant replaces the tooth root, it prevents the bone from shrinking, in turn preventing the look of the jaw and face from changing

By replacing missing teeth with dental implants, you’ll have that bright, pleasant smile sure to leave a good impression at your next job interview.