Ryan Boschken
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“The patient was satisfied with the clinical results and expressed gratitude for achieving his beautiful new smile” (Boschken).
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Description: Figure 2 and 3 provide examples of transformative journeys through the orthodontic remodeling.
by: Ryan Boschken
Humanity carries a certain obsession with constantly advancing because it can drive one’s purpose. People find solitude in constantly finding ways to improve their lives. Doctor Steve Maraboli is an author, public speaker, and academic in human behavior, finds his purpose in sharing his knowledge on the subject with the rest of the world by stating “Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you have power over instead of craving control over what you don’t” (Maraboli). Dr. Maraboli defines self-analysis by discussing the importance of confidence inspiring self-improvement. The voyage of introspection reveals a moment when one realizes how obtaining the confidence to ignite change from within yields massive results. Many authors and professionals in their respective fields across different times integrate the voyage of self-discovery into their works such as orthodontists and the brothers Grimm. The process of Orthodontics and the narrative of “Cinderella” by the Brothers Grimm converge in their depictions of undergoing transformative journeys marked by surmounting challenges and self-discovery, ultimately acknowledging the human inclination for amplified self-assurance and acceptance.
The process of Orthodontics displays a transformative journey marked by surmounting challenges and self-discovery, ultimately acknowledging the human inclination for amplified self-assurance and acceptance. For instance, Yolanda Lee and Theresa Nguyen, the main authors of “Effects of orthodontic treatment on self-confidence,” an article exploring the research of dental hygiene students. The two main authors are dental professionals and are affiliated with reputable dental institutions and wrote this article in 2011. The article highlights the impact of orthodontic treatment that is beyond pure aesthetics emphasizing its role in enhancing the patient’s self-esteem and therefore, overall well-being. Throughout their study, the students sent out 144 surveys to peers within the Regency Dental Hygiene Academy. After receiving responses from the series of questions within the surveys, their findings were that “approximately 16% indicated very low self-confidence before treatment and 52% indicated a very high self-confidence after treatment. 87% of [the] total respondents were satisfied with the results of their orthodontic treatment” (Lee and Nguyen). The results of the experiment indicate how the process of Orthodontics can improve the overall mental health of individuals through enhanced self-esteem. The article shows how patients can overcome a lack of confidence in physical appearance with the assistance of correctional appliances such as Invisalign, braces, or retainers. Even patients without a diminished sense of confidence seek and are satisfied with oral improvements because of the natural human desire for improved self-confidence and acceptance. For example, authors Vanessa de Couto Nascimento, Ana Cláudia de Castro Ferreira Conti, Maurício de Almeida Cardoso, Danilo Pinelli Valarelli, Renata Rodrigues de Almeida-Pedrin are dental professionals studying the impact orthodontic treatment influences the self-esteem and quality of life among patients that need oral rehabilitation. They published this article on September 1, 2016. The article explores the correlation between oral rehabilitation and the patient’s quality of life, having a positive effect on social interactions and emotional well-being. They gather their findings by collecting a sample size “requir[ing] a minimum of 97 patients” and concluding with a sample size of “102 adult patients: 77 women (75.5%) and 25 men (24.5%) between 18 and 66 years of age” (Vanessa de Couto Nascimento et al). Their findings showed that “70.6% of patients showed self-esteem improvement, 12.7% were unaltered, and self-esteem worsened in only 16.7%” (Vanessa de Couto Nascimento et al). The study provided evidence that shows orthodontics can make a significant change in mental well-being. Through a simple dental transformation, people become more comfortable with themselves and accepting of their physical attributes. Results may not be as desired which is why the experience can cause a rough patch in low cases but a majority of patients found overall improvement in their lives. In addition, this article by Richa Sharma, Robert Drummond, William Wiltshire, etc. investigates the patient experience with fixed appliances (appliances that are attached to the teeth by metal bands or cement. Ex: braces) versus Invisalign. They studied patients who were in active treatment for a minimum of 6 months and asked them a series of questions to assess their experience before, during, and after the treatment. Their findings showed that the outcomes, both physical and related to emotional well-being, were similar with no significant difference. However, those who used Invisalign had a better experience during the treatment. In fact, “the fixed-appliance group was 2.7 times more likely to report having difficulty eating” than the Invisalign group. This article is another example of how orthodontics compared to the motifs in “Cinderella”. The active treatment for a minimum of 6 months displays a transformative journey. Patients start with a less desirable arrangement of teeth and remold into a beautiful alignment which leaves the patients in awe providing newfound confidence. Invisalign provides patients with an oral avenue which also makes the process more enjoyable because instead of a rough path towards oral perfection, patients are given a beautiful appliance which is like putting on a glass slipper. However, some fixed appliances show the surmounting challenges that arise from this alteration such as, difficulty eating or a potential decrease in self-esteem. Even with these challenges people still trust orthodontics because humans require constant improvement and self-acceptance. The journey of self-acceptance through oral health can be complicated but the path can easily be defined through the fairy tale story of “Cinderella”.
The narrative of “Cinderella” divulges a transformative journey marked by surmounting challenges and self-discovery, ultimately acknowledging the human inclination for amplified self-assurance and acceptance. For example, Cinderella struggles to find where she belongs after her mother dies and it results in a lack of self-esteem. Her physical appearance explains her emotional and psychological state because “She always looks so dusty and dirty that people started to call her Cinderella” (Grimm 148). This moment marks the start of a transformative journey that begins with social neglect and low self-confidence. The terms dusty, and dirty describing the girl are phases that are commonly associated with objects that are forgotten or unappreciated. Cinder, the stem of the name Cinderella, is a byproduct of fire that creates discomfort and annoyance for those in contact. The negative association with the girl portrays a lost sense of self and creates desire sparking sympathy in the readers to see a positive transformation. This desire reveals the human need for self-assurance. Additionally, Elizabeth Panttaja writes a review article about social status in Cinderella describing how her increase in confidence helps her rise to a better life. “Cinderella finds herself in need of her mother’s good advice, and it is through keeping her mother’s advice that she manages to overcome her social isolation and the plots of her enemies. In the end, Cinderella rises to a position of power and influence” (Panttaja 89). Furthermore, Cinderella’s journey from “social isolation” to “power and influence” reveals self-growth. Cinderella “keeping her mother’s advice” represents individuality because it demonstrates finding confidence from within. Cinderella finding “herself in need of her mother’s good advice” shows a solution to several problems and challenges that occur during the journey of self-discovery. For instance. towards the end of Cinderella’s transformative journey, she is allowed to express her self-affirmation to the world. “She sat down on the stool, took her foot out of the heavy wooden shoe, and put it into the slipper. It fits perfectly. And when she stood up and the Prince looked her straight in the face, he recognized the beautiful girl with whom he had danced and exclaimed: ‘She is the true bride’” (Grimm 153). Recognizing the time to emancipate oneself from corrupt social norms can help one take advantage of finding self-affirmation. These actions represent a transformative experience because they display a disregard for social embrace and a revealing of self-affirmation. Although challenges may arise while trying to find self-acceptance without social approval, self-discovery is not found through others. A personal transformation is marked when one’s true potential is discovered, and others begin to recognize “the beautiful girl” or “true bride”. The “true bride” and the “beautiful girl” symbolize the expression of inner beauty. The ending of Cinderella brings joy to the readers, acknowledging how people find satisfaction in a rough journey ending in improvement. Orthodontics and “Cinderella” share very common themes in finding oneself through a challenging transformative experience.
In conclusion, many parallels between orthodontics and “Cinderella” reveal the beauty in self-improvement. the reshaping of orthodontics and the story of “Cinderella” align in their process of experiencing substantial positive change marked by overcoming adversity and self-realization, eventually recognizing the human demand for enhanced self-confirmation and acceptance. Time has always favored species that constantly adapt and evolve because improvement leads to survival. The inclination to make micro changes within our lives will remain hotwired inside our brains as an evolutionary advantage. However, it is easy to lose yourself while changing because there are several unnatural avenues to take while trying to improve. The best ways to change are those that amplify residing beauty whether that’s physical or psychological because these ways result in self-discovery instead of depersonalization.
Work Cited:
“Disney Princesses with Braces Are Actually Really Adorable: Oral Health, Dental Art,
Dental Fun.” Pinterest, 27 Oct. 2016, www.pinterest.com/pin/433753007846202970/.
Lee, Yolanda M., and Theresa N. Nguyen. “Effects of orthodontic treatment on self
confidence: perspective survey by dental hygiene students.” Canadian Journal of Dental Hygiene 45.3 (2011).
Mars Girolimon Jan 19, 2024, et al. “50 Best Personal Growth Quotes for Everyday
Evolution.” Southern New Hampshire University, www.snhu.edu/about-us/newsroom/education/personal-growth-quotes. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
Panttaja, Elisabeth. “Going up in the World: Class in ‘Cinderella.’” Western Folklore, vol. 52, no. 1, 1993, pp. 85–104. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/1499495. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
Richa Sharma, Robert Drummond, William Wiltshire, Robert Schroth, Milos Lekic, Mary Bertone, Robert Tate; “Quality of life in an adolescent orthodontic population: Invisalign versus fixed appliances.” Angle Orthod 1 November 2021; 91 (6): 718–724.
Tatar, Maria. The Classic Fairy Tales (Second Edition) (Norton Critical Editions). W. W. Norton & Company, 2017.
“Townie Treatment Case: A Team Approach by Dr. David R. Boschken.” Orthotown,
www.orthotown.com/magazine/article/8694/townie-treatment-case-a-team-approach. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
Vanessa de Couto Nascimento, Ana Cláudia de Castro Ferreira Conti, Maurício de Almeida Cardoso, Danilo Pinelli Valarelli, Renata Rodrigues de Almeida-Pedrin; “Impact of orthodontic treatment on self-esteem and quality of life of adult patients requiring oral rehabilitation.” Angle Orthod 1 September 2016; 86 (5): 839–845.
