Well before my pursuit of dentistry as a career, my first exposure to the potential of cosmetic dentistry were reality TV shows such as ABC’s “Extreme Makeover” (2002-2007) and FOX’s “The Swan” (2004). Both of these TV shows depicted ordinary people who underwent radical physical transformations via plastic surgery, cosmetic dentistry, weight loss regimens, hairdressing, and wardrobing. The transformations were consistently dramatic and often life changing for the participants due to the improved self-esteem which resulted from these “extreme makeovers”. Despite this fact, both TV shows were mired in controversy due to accusations of creating unrealistic body image goals among both men and women. Nonetheless, even a casual observer of the show could not deny the tremendous impact of the “smile makeover” component of these transformations.

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