Survey says: a perfect smile is more important than a perfect body

Good news for cosmetic dentists! In a recent poll issued by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, 80% of those surveyed said they would pay money to hide or correct aging flaws. What does this mean for dentistry? Over half of those willing to pay to look younger said they would improve the quality of teeth, while less than half said they would get weight loss help.

When asked what defeats the effects of aging the best, 45% said one’s smile can reflect an overall younger appearance, while legs, hair, and body shape are less likely to visibly contradict one’s age.

The survey was done in 2004, 2007, and 2011. Women are the ones getting most of the work done, but from 2007 to 2011, the percentage of men who had cosmetic dental work went up to 40% - a seven point increase. Not surprisingly, those 31-50 are the ones getting the most cosmetic dentistry, but that number may soon be surpassed by younger patients. From 2007 to 2011, patients of cosmetic dentistry under 20 years old grew from just 5% all the way to 17%.

Of primary concern to those considering cosmetic dental work was appearance, cost, and longevity of results over treatment time or pain.

You can check out the survey results on the AACD website.

Have you seen an increase of patients who want cosmetic work? Tell us if you are seeing similar patterns as this survey, or if your practice is slow in this area on Facebook.