Welcome to my site! My name is Verity. I work as a receptionist in a dentist office. Every day for the past 20 years, I have come in to the office, worked on paperwork, and greeted patients. I love my job, because it has helped me meet a lot of really wonderful people. I have seen families grow up! But an added benefit from my job is that I have also picked up some small information about dentistry. I'm not one of the dentists, but I do know quite a bit about simple procedures and basic dental hygiene. Hopefully this blog can teach you something, but remember to always consult with your actual dentist for real professional advice!
About Verity Longpar
Culture Shock: Beautifully Crooked Teeth
Eleanor Crawford
Having straight teeth in the United States and other parts of the Western world is often considered a sign of beauty. However, people in other parts of the world put just as much effort into doing the opposite. Here's a dose of culture shock regarding what Americans are having done to their teeth, versus what the Japanese are having done.
America's Straight Teeth
Having crooked teeth in America may be a big part of having low self-esteem. Americans go out of their way to have their teeth straightened with braces, retainers, or invisible braces. Parents often save up in order to get their children's teeth straightened as quickly as possible, so they don't grow up with crooked teeth. It's also quite common for adults to have their teeth capped or veneers installed to give the teeth a healthy, white, and uniform appearance. While this trend is shared in a fair amount of the world, not all countries feel the same way. Some people in Japan, for example, do the complete opposite of Americans.
Japanese Crooked Teeth
Some Japanese women and girls have begun to have dental procedures done to give them the appearance of crooked, overlapping teeth. The trend is called "yaeba," which literally means crooked teeth. A girl group called TYB48 is well-known for their crooked teeth, as all the members had the procedure performed, but whether or not they started the trend or are simply following it depends on who you ask.
For whatever reason, the Japanese find this appearance to be extremely cute, and girls as young as middle school age are having the procedure done. Rather than actually forcing the teeth into a crooked position, Japanese women have veneers or caps installed over their natural teeth, making them appear crooked. In addition, some have work done on their canine teeth in order to make them look pointier, like fangs. Women who were born with crooked teeth are praised for their appearance, and probably count themselves lucky that they were born into a time period where having crooked teeth is a popular trend.
While it's unlikely that the Japanese trend will catch on in the America, it's truly a sign that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Thankfully, it's easy to have your teeth straightened in the United States, but if you have crooked teeth, there's at least one country that thinks your smile is naturally beautiful. For more information on straightening procedures, contact a general dentistry practice in Hyannis, MA.
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