Changing a Life

Don't take your beautiful smile for granted! No matter whether you came by it through good genetics or the services of an orthodontist, be grateful; it is a gift. For many, a beautiful smile is only a dream.

Here is what a beautiful, healthy smile can do for you...

• give you self confidence
• make you successful
• tell others you are outgoing 
• make you more attractive
• inspire hope
• change your life

For these reasons and others too...DiCiccio Orthodontics is proud to be associated with an amazing organization called Smile for a Lifetime. This non-profit organization, provides orthodontic care for deserving, young people. Our Fresno/Clovis chapter was founded by Dr. DiCiccio in February of 2011 and we are proud to say that we are currently changing the lives of 10 young people in our community! 

Our mission is to find young people who have a need for braces that are between the ages of 11 and 17. These individuals must be successful students that participate in school and local activities, but do not have the means to attain the orthodontic care they need. Our hope is that through the increased self-confidence of a beautiful smile that they are motivated to achieve their goals and to give back to the community. All of the individuals that receive an orthodontic scholarship are required to "pay it forward" by participating in 40 hours of community service during their time in treatment. 

If you know of someone who might qualify for the gift of a smile and they live in the Fresno/Clovis, CA area, please forward them to the DiCiccio Orthodontics website. If you are not in this area, but would like to know if there is a chapter in your area, please visit the National Smile for a Lifetime website.

The Fresno/Clovis chapter awards 12 orthodontic scholarships per year. Our local board of directors selects the recipients on a quarterly basis, so applications are always being accepted. The application and requirements are located at www.DiCiccioOrtho.com. 

If you would like to keep current with what is going on in our local chapter, please "LIKE" the Smile for a Lifetime-Fresno/Clovis Facebook. 

Please take a minute to look at the story of one of our recent scholars...

What's in a Smile?

A smile can convey all sorts thing. Ever hear the saying..."A smile is worth a thousand words"? A smile can convey friendliness, show compassion, create laughter, and even the devious side of a person. While we know how to read smiles and gauge their meaning, does the real secret lie in teeth themselves? Did you know the different shapes of the teeth suggest personality types?

Analyzing Your Teeth

The two front teeth, or the incisors, show a person’s age. Generally, the younger you are the more rectangular and rounded the corners of your incisors are. As you age, your front teeth become squarer and the corners begin to shorten.

Next to your incisors are your lateral incisors, which indicate gender. More feminine lateral incisors are slightly shorter and more rounded at the ends. The womanly look is referred to as a “gull-wing” silhouette. More masculine lateral incisors are almost the same size as central incisors and more squared.

Cuspids, or the teeth to the immediate left of your lateral incisors, show aggressiveness versus passivity. More pointy canines indicate more aggressive and powerful personalities. People with a more passive nature typically have flattened canines that are rounded at the tip of cuspids. 

Not only does the shape of the teeth reveal your personality but the straightness and health of the teeth say something as well. An individual with a bright, beautiful smile is going to have a healthier self-image and greater self-confidence. It's not a secret that someone with greater self-confidence will be more energetic and go further in life. Dr. Pat DiCiccio and team love helping to create beautiful smiles and improve the self-confidence of their patients.

You can't change your personality! You are who you are. But by doing what you can to straighten your teeth and taking care to keep them healthy with good oral hygiene, you will certainly go a long way toward keeping a positive self-image and making you who you want to be.