By Dr. Eric Wolfe
You earned confidence in your career through years of showing up, working hard and building trust with the people around you. Yet I’ve seen time and again that even the most accomplished professionals can carry a quiet weight with them in how they feel about their smile when they walk into a room, lead a meeting or connect with professional peers.
At my practice, Summit Smiles Dental, I have met many people who have spent decades investing in their families, their teams and their careers, while gently setting themselves aside. My role is to care for their teeth, yes, and often to help them feel comfortable, confident and fully themselves again.
Let me share one patient’s story with you as an example…
Appearance Quietly Became a Distraction
Monte Wilcox is a powerful example of this reality. As a director at Visa, Monte led teams, collaborated with vendors and held a senior leadership role. Yet for years, severe dental issues weighed on him. With missing teeth and front teeth worn down to the point of near invisibility, he became self-conscious in meetings and uncomfortable in professional interactions.
His expertise was never in question, but how he felt about his appearance quietly affected his confidence. Instead of focusing fully on the work in front of him, he carried an unnecessary burden: worrying about how others perceived him.
This is more common than many people realize. It often happens quietly and sometimes nearly imperceptibly over time.
A Smile That Matches Your Experience
For professionals like you, a great smile is part of strong communication. It influences first impressions, presentations, conversations and everyday interactions. When your smile no longer reflects who you are or the level at which you operate, it can feel misaligned with the life you have built.
For Monte, addressing that misalignment meant taking a thoughtful step forward. Together, we decided on a full-mouth reconstruction using upper and lower fixed hybrid implants, which is an approach designed to restore comfort, function and confidence for the long term.
A Thoughtful, Supported Transformation
Monte’s procedure was carefully planned and fully supported by my dental team and me. Sedation ensured comfort. Temporary teeth allowed him to continue eating and living normally during healing. As his jaw healed, refinements were made so that the final result felt natural and strong.
When his permanent zirconia teeth were placed, the transformation was complete. Not just physically, but emotionally, too!
Monte describes the outcome with genuine gratitude. He no longer feels self-conscious or worried about how he appears. He speaks with confidence. He eats without limitation. He shows up at work and in life fully present.
He often says he wishes he had done it ten years earlier!
Investing in Yourself Is a Professional Decision
At Summit Smiles Dental, we understand that choosing advanced dental care is a personal, emotional and practical decision. That’s why we approach every conversation with care, clarity and respect for your goals.
When your smile reflects the life you have built for yourself, confidence follows naturally – at work, at home and everywhere in between.