Most people don’t enjoy dentists visits, but they will do just about anything to get whiter and better looking teeth. That’s why the cosmetic dentistry industry is growing at a rapid pace. There are a number of things you can do on your own and with the help of a dentist to help your teeth look better.

Why do people think the look of their teeth is so important? For many people, they feel a nice smile is important to their career. Almost three-fourths of adults feel that an unattractive smile can hurt their careers. There is some research that shows people who are more attractive are more successful in their careers. Even if a nice smile isn’t actually necessary in most careers, the perception that one is necessary can make people believe they need to do something to improve their teeth.

Just about everyone believes a nice smile is socially important. People who believe they need to have good teeth to get friends and find a mate will do just about anything to achieve that goal, which is why people spend $1.4 billion annually on teeth whitening products. There are over-the-counter teeth whitening products that can be an inexpensive way to whiten teeth if it works. For other people, they may need to have a dentist do their teeth whitening, which is more expensive but is much more likely to be successful.

While whiter teeth is a noble goal, some people have teeth issues that go beyond whitening. For example, more than 30 million people are missing all their teeth on either the top or the bottom. For those with complete tooth loss, dentures are a solution, but they don’t work for people who have a missing tooth here and there. In such cases a dental bridge or an implant can be the right solution. Research indicates that dental implants are 98% successful on average, which may be why they are so successful. About 3 million people have dental implants in the U.S., and that number is growing by about 500,000 people each year.

If you feel you need to improve your teeth, you need to investigate options and then weigh the result you want against how much you are willing to pay and how much hassle you are willing to endure.