The Confidence of a Beautiful Smile!

When you first meet someone (and it is a pleasant encounter) what is your first action? In almost every instance it is a smile. Oh sure, you look at the colors of their clothing or the style of their hair but it is the mouth to which the eye is directed. It actually feels a bit weird to stare into someone’s eyes as you talk to them and it is the motion of the mouth and the display of the teeth that you watch as the conversation progresses.

Constructing a beautiful smile is what makes me feel like an artist even though I can’t paint worth a hoot! Interestingly I can see how the finished smile will appear even before I start moving the teeth. I get more excited than patients expect at their initial consultation because of this final image in my mind. Significant changes in patients’ lives can occur with the reconstruction of protrusive front teeth or closing of large spaces that were thought to be permanent until they made their orthodontic appointment with us.

When I return from a vacation I cannot wait until my first day at work comes around! It is this life changing occupation that keeps me excited about what we do here at Hechler Orthodontics. Knowing that a young boy or girl may experience less embarrassment from peer pressure over their lifetime due to our aesthetic changes makes every day so fulfilling. When an adult patient experiences a dramatic change in their acceptance during conversations that aren’t diverted to unsightly teeth, their desire to be in a crowd changes immensely.

I can only hope you find or have found an occupation that gives you as much pleasure and fulfillment in your lives as I have in mine. If you are a student and would ever like to talk about your future as an orthodontist please feel free to let me know.

Dr. Hechler