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Original poster

Would you hire someone without a front tooth?

131 replies

SparklyNewMe · 30/01/2025 08:05

I am looking to fill a customer facing, well paid position for a large organisation.
I have interviewed a candidate with suitable experience, I can see him fitting in well with the team but 2 front teeth are missing. My DH is missing a front tooth for the last 2 months, it’s taking NHS that long and it’s been fitted today at last. So, I know it’s not a red flag in itself and can be circumstances. Maybe he cannot afford and does not plan to fix. But I can’t ask him outright about this, I can’t discriminate on this basis and also I can’t have someone represent our organisation like this. It maybe my own biases and it’s perfectly acceptable and I am precious?

Any advice on how to go about it will be greatly appreciated.

OP posts:
pinkwaffles · 30/01/2025 08:06

Are you serious?

Of course you can and should hire him if he's a good fit for the role.

Drachuughtty · 30/01/2025 08:08

Yes of course you can.
Who else would you discriminate against?
A woman with thinning hair, someone with a facial scar or disfigurement, tattoo....? Hopefully you can see this is wrong and unfair?

Hire him!

Hedgerow2 · 30/01/2025 08:08

A front tooth as in your title or 2 front teeth as in your post?

Not that it matters. To answer your question, yes I would hire them.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

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Yourfootisinmysirachamayo · 30/01/2025 08:09

"So I know it's not a red flag in itself and can be circumstances."

What do you mean by this? How could it be anything but circumstances? I'm sure he's not choosing to have two of his teeth missing 🥴

BackAgainSlimLady · 30/01/2025 08:09

This reply has been deleted

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MissionaryMumtoOne · 30/01/2025 08:10

If you don’t hire him because of this, it’s discrimination and really unfair.

if he fits the role and you can see him fitting in the team/company you should definitely hire him.

CucumberBagel · 30/01/2025 08:10

What do you think it's indicative of? Some huge moral failing?

Enko · 30/01/2025 08:10

For me the importance would be if he would be a good fit.

You answered that with a yes. So I would hire him.

AltitudeCheck · 30/01/2025 08:11

People will notice his teeth, I know I would, but if he's good at his job I wouldn't judge the company on it.

FrenchandSaunders · 30/01/2025 08:13

I’m not sure tbh. I know that’s bad

biscuitsandbooks · 30/01/2025 08:15

Everyone will fall over themselves to say it's not an issue - but, rightly or wrongly, appearances do matter and I think a lot of companies would hesitate, in all honesty.

I am not saying I agree with that stance (before I get jumped on for being an awful human being) but it's true.

Rosecoffeecup · 30/01/2025 08:16

But I can’t ask him outright about this, I can’t discriminate on this basis and also I can’t have someone represent our organisation like this.

Jesus I'd hate to see who else you wouldn't let represent your organisation

I lost two front teeth as a teenager and I'm glad I didn't encounter any judgmental arseholes like you

notwavingbutsinking · 30/01/2025 08:18

Was his general appearance (ie the things he can control - hygiene, clothes, hair) appropriate to the role? Assuming yes (or you probably would have mentioned this) then yes you should absolutely hire him if he is the most suitable candidate.

Are you worried that hiring him will reflect badly on you in the eyes of senior management etc? That other people will question your judgement? That's a tricky one but I think doing the right thing gets you respect in long term.

SoScarletItWas · 30/01/2025 08:21

I can’t have someone represent our organisation like this.

Unless the organisation is a cosmetic dentist (in which case a staff discount to help him with implants?) then what on earth is the impact of having him represent it?

I assume he was otherwise professionally turned out and this tiny thing, that he cannot help, is the only (non)issue?

Chiseltip · 30/01/2025 08:24

It would.put me off TBH. If he was the first contact I had with your organisation I would think WTF.

Looks DO matter, despite what people say. I does it affect his speech?

You can easily tell if missing teeth are due to neglect or accident/procedure. Which one is this?

If neglect, then it sends a bad signal.

If it's from another cause, that's different, but still doesn't look great I think.

In many other countries, the US, most of Europe, this would make you literally unemployable in any customer facing role.

Rightsraptor · 30/01/2025 08:28

Does it affect his speech? Missing teeth often do.

I always notice teeth and I'd struggle to hire him - why has he lost those teeth? Is he a smoker (which constricts blood vessels, leading to tooth loss)? He might take lots of smoking breaks. Does he fight, as in fisticuffs, and that's how he lost them? Would he turn aggressive?

Up to you though.

TR888 · 30/01/2025 08:30

Came on, people... customer-facing roles require a reasonable good presentation. You don't need to be a model but you need to look neat.

You personally might not mind that this candidate has two front teeth missing. I wouldn't either. But lots of people would associate missing teeth with being unkept. And that reflects on the organisation 🙂.

Sunnyside4 · 30/01/2025 08:32

I think we're more open minded these days, and as hard as it is sometimes not to judge, we accept people are all different. As long as you feel the person concerned could do the job well and get on well with customers, patients, whatever. Also, that they presented clean and tidy.

SirChenjins · 30/01/2025 08:35

I agree with the other posters who say that looks do matter, especially in a front facing role like this. Providing he was otherwise well turned out and had a professional manner I'd hope that it was a temporary thing and he was waiting for a dental appointment, but I would be mindful that this is often the sign of a heavy smoker with the smell and need for regular smoking breaks that brings - had one of those in my team a while back, it was a pita.

notwavingbutsinking · 30/01/2025 08:36

In many other countries, the US, most of Europe, this would make you literally unemployable in any customer facing role.

That doesn't make it OK though. I think it's great if as a country we are aspiring to do better than this.

I agree with a PP that I think we are getting more open minded, and a good job too. Personally I really dislike tattoos and have negative associations with them. But I am able to recognise that is my prejudice and would be careful to not let it influence my judgement if I was hiring for a customer facing role, or interacting as a customer myself.

Lovelyview · 30/01/2025 08:37

The difference between missing teeth and a disability is that missing teeth can be fixed and if someone hasn't taken steps to do this then that says something about them and their attitude. It's a difficult one op but I don't think you're a bad person to be asking the question. (And there's no way a woman would be getting a customer facing job in a prestigious firm with two missing front teeth). It's possible he lost or broke a false set and is waiting for the replacement but it's odd he didn't mention it in the interview if it's a temporary problem.

MissDoubleU · 30/01/2025 08:37

It’s so classist and disgusting to even consider not hiring him.The post above trying to justify it saying he might be a smoker? Anyone might be a smoker. If you’re concerned about smoke breaks, ask in the interview if they smoke and hire accordingly. Don’t make judgments. You have no idea why this person may not have teeth, it can be due to any number of factors. Some people loose teeth during pregnancy for gods sake! What if they were assaulted through no fault of their own and need a job before they can afford to have replacements.

Your husband is very lucky to be able to get NHS dentist service, as most people in the UK are struggling with this. Dental work is very expensive. I suspect someone waiting for a job doesn’t have the spare cash to go private.

I am actually entitled to full NHS dental cover. However. There are no dentists anywhere in my area or surrounding that are taking on patients. None, I have been waiting for years. I was told once there was an open day at one and if I wanted a chance to be registered for NHS care I would have to go down to the dentist office and queue outside for it opening. First come, first serve. They had space for 10 new patients and there were hundreds queueing an hour before they opened. Felt like the hunger games of basic dental care.

Fortunately I am not in need of serious work done and can afford to pay privately for cleans.

SirChenjins · 30/01/2025 08:40

You're not allowed to ask someone in an interview if they're a smoker @MissDoubleU - absolutely not.

Chewbecca · 30/01/2025 08:40

Surely this is a joke?

If you work for a big org, they will have training on recruitment - please get yourself on it asap.

notwavingbutsinking · 30/01/2025 08:40

Lovelyview · 30/01/2025 08:37

The difference between missing teeth and a disability is that missing teeth can be fixed and if someone hasn't taken steps to do this then that says something about them and their attitude. It's a difficult one op but I don't think you're a bad person to be asking the question. (And there's no way a woman would be getting a customer facing job in a prestigious firm with two missing front teeth). It's possible he lost or broke a false set and is waiting for the replacement but it's odd he didn't mention it in the interview if it's a temporary problem.

I think this would be more valid if we had a functioning NHS dentistry service in this country, but we are so far from that that it's impossible to make any judgement on why he hasn't addressed the issue.