A 2009 study conducted by researchers through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for health philanthropy showed a direct correlation between unemployment and decreased preventive dentistry visits. A 2015 study conducted in Finland reported a correlation between unemployment and poor oral health including increased missing teeth, decayed teeth, and deep periodontal pockets. The evidence is pretty clear that those who are unemployed struggle to receive the dental care they need, but even more startling may be the 2006 study that revealed people who had one or more missing teeth, receding gums, or decaying teeth who had been on unemployment in California for months or years were much more likely to get hired after receiving the dental care they needed. Researchers were unsure whether this change was due to the way employers perceived these individuals, or the increased self-confidence people felt after correcting dental damage. Either way, the research is clear, successful people are more likely to have beautiful smiles. At Virginia Dentistry by Design, we know that cosmetic dentistry is about improving so much more than just appearances. For patients who hide their smiles and cover their mouths when they talk, cosmetic dentistry can be life changing.