Smile Confidence and Healthy Aging
- The New Dentist
- 2 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Cosmetic dentistry is often framed as a pursuit of youth or appearance—but its impact goes far deeper. As patients age, teeth naturally wear, discolor, shift, and sometimes are lost altogether. These changes affect more than just a smile—they can influence how people see themselves, causing them to smile less, withdraw socially, and feel less confident in everyday interactions.
At the Wellness Dental Forum, Dr. Susan McMahon will explore the powerful connection between smile confidence, social perception and healthy aging. Through case examples, attendees will see how thoughtful, natural-looking restorative dentistry can help patients regain confidence without appearing artificial or overdone. Dr. McMahon will highlight the difference between restorations that harmonize with a patient’s age, personality, and facial features and aggressive cosmetic outcomes that fail to look authentic.
Learn practical, easy-to-implement clinical techniques that allow dentists to elevate everyday esthetic care.
From conservative composite enhancements and subtle contouring to polishing, color refinement, and minimally invasive restorative approaches, these strategies help refresh a patient’s smile while preserving natural tooth structure. These methods can be incorporated seamlessly into daily practice, producing results that look effortless, natural, and appropriate for each stage of life.
Restorative and cosmetic care becomes part of a larger commitment: supporting patients to age with health, dignity and confidence.
Join this session as part of the Dental Wellness Forum—a two-day educational experience designed to bring together leading voices in dentistry, wellness and patient-centered care. Across the event, you’ll gain exposure to a wide range of perspectives, clinical strategies and real-world systems that extend far beyond a single lecture.
In this session, you will learn how to:
Use smile confidence to guide treatment: Assess how changes in teeth impact patient confidence and social engagement, and plan solutions that restore both function and self-esteem
Create natural-looking results: Evaluate age, personality and facial features to deliver subtle, harmonious enhancements that feel authentic
Incorporate simple techniques into daily practice: Apply conservative composite techniques, contouring, polishing and color refinement to elevate everyday care while preserving tooth structure
Explore the full speaker lineup, session details and secure your seat at the Dental Wellness Forum.
You’ll leave with practical techniques and a broader perspective on how dentistry supports confidence, health and aging at every stage of life—while stepping back from day-to-day practice to refine your approach to esthetics, communication and long-term patient outcomes.
Dr. Susan McMahon is an AACD‑accredited cosmetic dentist, a distinction held by fewer than 350 dentists worldwide. A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, she maintains one of the largest cosmetic dental practices in Western Pennsylvania.
Accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry in 2005, Dr. McMahon demonstrated advanced proficiency in cosmetic and restorative dentistry, including veneers, implant restoration, full‑mouth reconstruction, and bonding. She is a fellow of the International Academy of Dental‑Facial Esthetics, Director of New Product Evaluation for Catapult Education, and a member of the American Society for Dental Aesthetics.
An author and international lecturer, Dr. McMahon teaches advanced cosmetic techniques and has presented throughout the United States and Europe. She is a seven‑time award winner and two‑time gold medalist in the AACD Annual Smile Gallery and has been repeatedly recognized as a Top Cosmetic Dentist and a Top Dentist by her peers.
2 Days. 41 Steps Forward.
Join the Dental Wellness Forum, a two-day live online event featuring 41 presentations focused on helping clinicians make better clinical decisions, improve patient outcomes and build a more sustainable practice.
Choose the sessions most relevant to you or watch them all.
Stream the entire event live for just $97, making high-level continuing education accessible to every dentist and dental team.