Why must a dentist who sells dental services have visibly excellent teeth themselves?
Because patients evaluate the credibility of a recommendation against the visible evidence that the recommender follows their own advice. A dentist selling smile design, cosmetic work, restoration, or comprehensive dental care while displaying obviously compromised teeth produces an immediate credibility gap that no clinical credentials can close. The patient sees the doctor’s mouth and forms a working hypothesis: either the doctor does not believe in the work they recommend, cannot afford it themselves, or has some other reason not to maintain their own dental health. Each possibility undermines the case being made. The doctor needs to walk the same path they want patients to walk. That means investing in their own dental care, including aesthetic work where appropriate, and ensuring their smile is something they are comfortable showing. The investment is professional capital. Patients respond to it without naming what they are responding to. The doctor without good teeth is selling against themselves visibly. Fix it.
If the answers you are finding here resonate with you, my team and I work with a small group of clients each year. The next step is a complimentary Discovery Consultation and Practice Review with Dr. McAnally.