CDA Essentials 2018 • Volume 6 • Issue 1

30 | 2019 | Issue 1 S upporting Y our P ractice interactionism is a microsociological perspective rooted in the idea that people understand situations based on their social interactions with others and general society. 9 Because of the concern with lived experience in symbolic interactionism, I aimed to get as close to the perspective of the participants as possible. To achieve this, I employed a naturalistic approach using conversational-style interviews based on an interview guide. I started by asking participants what encouraged them to apply for the dental program. From there, I asked open-ended questions, such as whether they had noticed any changes in their lives since the treatment. To end every interview, I asked participants if there was anything else that they thought was important to add to the discussion. This interview style allowed respondents to discuss their experiences in their own terms, while reflecting on the way they interacted with society before and after dental treatment. With the consent of the participants, I audio-recorded the interviews, transcribed them verbatim and subjected them to a thematic analysis. Because of the exploratory nature of my interviews, my research followed an inductive method. Inductive theory involves drawing conclusions based on one’s findings rather than using research to test a theory. 10 I reviewed the transcriptions to determine the overlapping themes that emerged in the interviews as a basis to reflect on the impact of dental care on individuals’ lived experience. Findings Most participants discussed the impact of the dental treatment they received in physical terms, including pain relief, general health improvements, the ability to eat a more nutritious diet and improved sleep patterns. However, the interviews were particularly striking in the emphasis that participants placed on how much more confident they felt as a consequence of the dental treatment. They discussed this confidence boost in relation to their self-concept, their interactions with others and their employability. Self-concept A predominant theme in participants’ reflections was the relation between the appearance of their teeth and their self-image. For example, after expressing embarrassment about his teeth, one man commented on the disconnect between his self-understanding and his appearance before the treatment, which had made it difficult for him even to see reflections of himself in a mirror. He explained, “ I didn’t think that my appearance reflected the person that I felt inside, and now I’m able to look in the mirror.” A female participant also mentioned a newfound excitement in looking at herself. “ You start to feel better about yourself. You look in the mirror a little bit longer. Like I said, when I left the office and smiled, there is a mirror beside the door when you leave, and I looked in that again with a smile just to see it.” Another respondent contrasted how he felt about himself before and after treatment by referring to a “snowball effect.” Once “down” on himself, he described the steadily growing sense of confidence he was experiencing as a result of having his teeth fixed: “ If you feel better about yourself, keep thinking that way, you’re going to keep feeling better and better and better about yourself.” He predicted that this more positive view of himself and general outlook on life would continue to make things better for him. The data highlight how the undesirable appearance of their teeth led participants to experience low-self- esteem. However, with treatment, their definition of themselves began to change. They began to feel more positive about themselves and experience higher levels of self-confidence. Social Interactions Most participants were well aware of the link between self-concept and their social interactions. One participant described the importance of smiling in communication. She pointed out: “ Smiles are a first impression when you see anybody. You want to smile or make eye contact, and if you don’t feel good about yourself, you can’t do that.” The interviews were particularly striking in the emphasis that participants placed on how much more confident they felt as a consequence of the dental treatment.