Does cosmetic dental work influence your opinion about someone?

Orrex

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Jul-18-10 03:50 PM
Original message

Poll question: Does cosmetic dental work influence your opinion about someone?

Edited on Sun Jul-18-10 03:53 PM by Orrex

Not a copycat.

I'm talking about elective dental procedures undertaken for purely cosmetic reasons. Does the voluntary choice to undertake such procedures alter your opinion of a person?

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Hawkowl

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Jul-18-10 03:54 PM
Response to Original message

1. Probably genetically hardwired

I think humans are genetically predisposed to view people with good teeth positively. Good teeth are the sign of good health in all animals. If you have bad teeth you are probably sick and sickness is to be avoided. Indeed people used to die of "tooth aches" (tooth and jaw infections)all the time.

So I am not quite sure of the point of your poll.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Orrex

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Jul-18-10 03:57 PM
Response to Reply #1

2. So you're saying...

that you'd react favorably to someone because that person undertook an elective procedure to create the impression of superior health?

So I am not quite sure of the point of your poll.

So I'd say that you've demonstrated the point of my poll quite handily.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Hawkowl

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Jul-18-10 04:23 PM
Response to Reply #2

11. I'm saying ALL people would

So that is the reason I'm unsure of your poll. Kinda of like polling if water is wet. Even those who vote no, are simply kidding themselves.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

T Wolf

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Jul-18-10 04:02 PM
Response to Reply #1

6. In the end, centuries from now, when the US has universal health CARE, some

decisions will have to be made about what is allowed (on the tax-based dime).

Is breast enhancement allowed? Is breast reduction allowed?

Dental-wise, will "vanity" enhancement be allowed?

As long as the assumption of medical care as a right remains outside of policy, there will always be these kinds of decisions.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Ozymanithrax

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Jul-18-10 03:57 PM
Response to Original message

3. The question isn't clear...

Edited on Sun Jul-18-10 03:58 PM by Ozymanithrax

A bright white smile and even teeth contributes to a very positive impression. But we don't ask "who did you mouth." There are plenty of studies to show that appearance contributes to a positive impression.

If I knew in advance that someone spent thousands using extensive cosmetic dental surgery to change the appearance, it might make a difference, indicate that the person is vain and overly concerned with appearances. But it also might make me think the person just cares a lot about his or her appearance and be a positive influence, depending on other subtle nonverbal clues.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Orrex

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Jul-18-10 04:00 PM
Response to Reply #3

5. Okay then...

Are you equally favorably disposed to people who undertake thousands of dollars worth of elective cosmetic surgeries because they care a lot about their appearance?

By the way, if you include "other subtle nonverbal clues," you're changing the question.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Ozymanithrax

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Jul-18-10 04:14 PM
Response to Reply #5

8. If I know they did it, probably not. It is a sign of vanity or low self esteem.

In most cases, however, we don't know. We just see those beautiful white even teeth and are seduced by the image of engineered perfection.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Bozita

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Jul-18-10 03:57 PM
Response to Original message

4. CAUTION: Your vote on this poll could be influenced by thoughts of Norm Coleman

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

boobooday

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Jul-18-10 04:07 PM
Response to Original message

7. Depends on what they started with.

Some people may have unattractive teeth, and feel more confident by improving them. Looking like a row of chiclets out of pure vanity is kinda stupid.

What a weird poll.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

jp11

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Jul-18-10 04:16 PM
Response to Original message

9. Depends.

If I know the facts and situation or not, if not I have no opinion either way and think they are as they were (unaltered, or marginally altered as most people with dental care are).

Do I begrudge someone for having money to fix cosmetic issues that may affect their own sense of self worth and of course affect how others judge them because it happens, no. Do I look favorably on someone who spent money to make their teeth ultra perfect when their teeth were 'fine', not really, but it is their choice as to how they spend their money.

The bigger issue is whether these people who had problems, real or imagined, are hypocrites about other people with 'bad' teeth.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

dipsydoodle

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Jul-18-10 04:18 PM
Response to Original message

10. Nothing quite like

a nice set of choppers aka Hampsteads in the UK.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

petronius

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Jul-18-10 04:34 PM
Response to Original message

12. I would like to choose both #1 and #2

When people demonstrate care for their appearance I respond positively, but there is a point where that response breaks down. 'Too much' attention to appearance and I tend to respond with disdain (and I can't quantify 'too much' - it's a case-by-case response).

I can't really speak to elective dentistry in particular because I'm not sure I'd notice it - as long as teeth are sorta straight and sorta whitish they're all the same to me...

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

DU AdBot (1000+ posts)

Wed May 01st 2024, 08:31 PM
Response to Original message

Advertisements [?]

Top

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators

Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.