Snaggle Tooth = Social Suicide and Spinsterhood!

So I’ve been looking at commercials so much for my thesis, and reading about how advertisers address women in commercials, that I just can’t break myself out of that mindset. Probably a good thing, if I were motivated to work on my thesis right now (which I’m not, thanks to the Charlie Brown Christmas cd and the Steel Magnolias DVD my mom sent me). In any case, today was my LAST final, in Macroeconomics, if you’re interested. I don’t think it went very well, so I’ve been hiding in bed watching television when I see a commercial for Exclusive Smiles, a cosmetic dentistry practice by Gary Demerjian. What struck me about the commercial is how upfront it is. I can’t remember the exact voice-over comments but it was something like, “Exclusive Smiles will give Susan a new smile, and maybe even a new relationship!” (in that knowing, hinting voice, as Susan frolics with some hunky men).

Lights flashed, sirens went off, I was kind of shocked at how the commercial made the connection for the viewer, as opposed to forcing the viewer to make the connection: look, Susan is sad because she has a snaggle tooth. Look, Susan went to Exclusive Smiles where she was helped by young and attractive dental hygienists, and she came out looking great! Look, Susan is holding hands with a handsome male, it must be because of her dental make-over!

I decided to check out the website, which was equally surprising and depressing. On the “Cosmetic Solutions” page, they have some pretty interesting statistics:
92% of adults agree that an attractive smile is an important social asset.
88% say they always remember someone with an attractive smile.
85% agree that an unattractive smile makes a person less appealing to the opposite sex.
74% agree that an unattractive smile can hurt a person’s chances for career success.
93% of adults think it is important to have an attractive, healthy smile.

They're probably true, which is sad, but I just find it interesting that they make this connection for you!

The commercial reminded me of the old advertisements someone posted a long time ago (ex. he left you at the alter because your breath stinks, use Listerine!). Anyways, just something semi-but-not-really-thesis related.