As you may have noticed, appearance is very important when it comes to being a flight attendant. Flight attendants seem to always have the perfect smile, so it can be intimidating for someone that might have had dental issues in the past.
There are a lot of common questions out there when it comes to some of the specific requirements that people are afraid might keep them from being hired. One of those common questions is around having dentures or false teeth. Many people want to know: Can I be a flight attendant if I have dentures?
Yes, you can be a flight attendant if you have dentures as long as they are fixed dentures and not removable. Removable dentures depend on airline specific policies and in some cases are not allowed.
Below is a break down that covers more details of what is allowed and what might be an issue. Also, please note that like most policies when it comes to being a flight attendant, there are always some airline specific rules that you might run into that aren’t standard in the industry.
Let’s take a look at some more specific examples including some where having dentures might also be an issue.
*Related: How to become a flight attendant even if you don’t have any experience!
Why are a flight attendant’s teeth important?
As mentioned above, the appearance of a flight attendant is very important. Airlines go to great trouble to make sure that all of their flight attendants meet very specific standards when it comes to grooming, uniforms, make-up, and more. The reason for this is for most passengers, flight attendants are the employees of the airline that they will interact with most. Leaving a good impression makes it more likely that a passenger will feel comfortable flying with that airlines which leads to them flying with that airline again.
Airlines want their flight attendants to be friendly, outgoing, helpful, and energetic. Having a great smile (and smiling often!) is very important in the role since it helps leave that great impression with passengers.
Flight Attendants with Fixed Dentures
If you have dentures that are permanently attached and do not need to be removed (and do not fall out!) you should be fine with most airlines. This includes implants, bridge work, partials, and more. Basically, the airline you work for will not have to worry about them falling out while you’re working so it isn’t a concern for anyone.
If you fall into this category, I would not worry at all about your dentures or fake teeth being an issue.
Flight Attendants with Removable Dentures
If you have removable dentures, things can get a little more complicated. The reason for this is that airlines do not want to risk your dentures falling out while you are working with passengers or worse yet – during an emergency.
Since flight attendants have to serve food and drinks to passengers, it can not only make for an awkward situation if your dentures were to fall out, but can have implications on the food and drinks you are serving. Airplanes can also sometimes have significant turbulence. Uneasy moments like that could also lead to the situation where someone’s dentures fall out.
Although some airlines might be fine with removable dentures, some might not. You should be sure to ask this during the hiring process if it applies to you.
Conclusion
If you are interested in becoming a flight attendant but have dentures (or other medical/dental issues) the best advice is to go ahead and apply for the job you want. When you are contacted by an airline they will be more than happy to be upfront and give you all the information you need regarding their dental requirements. In most cases, you’ll find out that you had nothing to worry about.
The important thing to remember is that you should worry less about being self conscious and try your best to SMILE as often as you can! Airlines want happy and friendly flight attendants that smile. Most people are at least a little self-conscious about their teeth. The key is to focus on providing a great experience to passengers.
Good luck on your job hunt!
