rienced by children and adults. Sadly, I was also privy to some unhappy moments, as well.

It's very easy to identify someone suffering from poor self esteem because of teeth that appeared to have been randomly cast inside their mouth. These patients desired to return the smile given t

There exists a growing body of evidence to suggest that the many challenges - academic, financial, environmental, and psychological - that create so much stress and strain in our embattled school system, may all be underwritten and aggravated by a poor self image on the part of a considerable number of students.

Students who suffer from low self esteem, having been conditioned by a variety of influences to assume the worst and to expect the least from themselves, often set in motion a sequence of situations ranging from poor academic performance to bullying (often a quick but demoralizing route to a much needed sense of social worth), which spirals out of control and results in an increasingly damaged inter-personal environment.

An adult suffering from low self esteem is a personal disaster area which all too often becomes the center of a whole variety of social and psychological problems, both for the adults in question, and for the other people around them.

Having nearly a decade of experience as a Treatment Coordinator (TC) in the largest orthodontic practice in the South Carolina Upstate, I witnessed many joyous moments experienced by children and adults. Sadly, I was also privy to some unhappy moments, as well.

It's very easy to identify someone suffering from poor self esteem because of teeth that appeared to have been randomly cast inside their mouth. These patients desired to return the smile given t

le number of students.

Students who suffer from low self esteem, having been conditioned by a variety of influences to assume the worst and to expect the least from themselves, often set in motion a sequence of situations ranging from poor academic performance to bullying (often a quick but demoralizing route to a much needed sense of social worth), which spirals out of control and results in an increasingly damaged inter-personal environment.

An adult suffering from low self esteem is a personal disaster area which all too often becomes the center of a whole variety of social and psychological problems, both for the adults in question, and for the other people around them.

Having nearly a decade of experience as a Treatment Coordinator (TC) in the largest orthodontic practice in the South Carolina Upstate, I witnessed many joyous moments experienced by children and adults. Sadly, I was also privy to some unhappy moments, as well.

It's very easy to identify someone suffering from poor self esteem because of teeth that appeared to have been randomly cast inside their mouth. These patients desired to return the smile given t

ck but demoralizing route to a much needed sense of social worth), which spirals out of control and results in an increasingly damaged inter-personal environment.

An adult suffering from low self esteem is a personal disaster area which all too often becomes the center of a whole variety of social and psychological problems, both for the adults in question, and for the other people around them.

Having nearly a decade of experience as a Treatment Coordinator (TC) in the largest orthodontic practice in the South Carolina Upstate, I witnessed many joyous moments experienced by children and adults. Sadly, I was also privy to some unhappy moments, as well.

It's very easy to identify someone suffering from poor self esteem because of teeth that appeared to have been randomly cast inside their mouth. These patients desired to return the smile given t

ety of social and psychological problems, both for the adults in question, and for the other people around them.

Having nearly a decade of experience as a Treatment Coordinator (TC) in the largest orthodontic practice in the South Carolina Upstate, I witnessed many joyous moments experienced by children and adults. Sadly, I was also privy to some unhappy moments, as well.

It's very easy to identify someone suffering from poor self esteem because of teeth that appeared to have been randomly cast inside their mouth. These patients desired to return the smile given t

rienced by children and adults. Sadly, I was also privy to some unhappy moments, as well.

It's very easy to identify someone suffering from poor self esteem because of teeth that appeared to have been randomly cast inside their mouth. These patients desired to return the smile given them with total abandonment but always tilted their heads downward or would cover their mouth partially. In the case of children, some would totally cover their mouth with both hands.

The TC’s job is to do more than sell a case. In these instances, it was quite obvious there was a need for orthodontic treatment. Gaining the patient’s trust enough to relax and discuss their concerns about their smile was the first step. In adults, overcoming any preconceived ideas or incorrect information received from well-meaning friends, was also part of the equation. What I call the F-Factors had to be dealt with as a patient sat before you with a need for orthodontic care. The F-Factors are: Fear and Finances.

While the financial aspects of orthodontic treatment were almost always a factor for adults, fear was alive and well in children and adults. Some kids would at least express a very coherent statement about how much it would all cost. I believe many felt their teeth were so ‘mangled’ that it had to “cost a fortune" to correct. This was yet another indication of poor self-esteem needing to be resolved.

What is your self-portrait? Do you w