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A couple of articles are added each month with many more articles provided in the CAS's Maple Leaf Times (eMLT) magazine. To receive your eMLT magazine sent directly to your inbox (8 issues per year), become a member of the Canadian Association of Singapore. Visit the CAS website to register -- www.canadians.org.sg

Monday, November 1, 2010

Your Smile has an Economic Value

Contributed by Specialist Dental Group

Many of you would no doubt have read articles on smile makeovers through teeth whitening, veneers, dental implants and orthodontic treatment. However, not much has been written about the financial value of a great set of teeth.

The National Bureau of Research in the USA published a paper in 2008 about the Economic Value of Teeth.
According to the report, women who grew up in areas where there was water fluoridation earned 4% more than those who did not live in such communities. This was particularly evident in families with a low socioeconomic status.

The premise of the research was the fact that people with bad teeth or missing teeth had more trouble finding jobs. The conclusion was that employer and consumer discrimination were the likely factors where the women’s oral health affected their earnings.  This could possibly be due to a less attractive physical appearance, especially for front-line positions, but also due to the perception that bad teeth equated to poor health or poor personal hygiene.

There are certain professions where one’s appearance (and thus, one’s teeth) is placed at a premium e.g., celebrities, broadcasters, etc.  Nevertheless, a great smile is also helpful for other positions, whether they are customer service related or at the senior corporate level.

Don’t let obstacles such as anxiety or financial circumstances hinder you from seeking solutions to dental problems – there are always ways to address these issues one step at a time, in manageable bites ...


Specialist Dental Group is a corporate sponsor of the Canadian Association of Singapore (CAS). CAS members enjoy a special rate for dental services. For details, send an enquiry via http://www.specialistdentalgroup.com or call 6733 7883.

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