New AACD survey: Cosmetic dentistry healthy, continuing to grow
Patients are continuing to seek cosmetic dentistry for reasons like self esteem and upcoming events (e.g., weddings). Dental implants are expected to show the most positive growth in the coming year.
A recent survey of dental professionals conducted by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) reveals that cosmetic procedures continue to bring life to dental practices. The AACD has conducted the biennial State of the Cosmetic Dentistry Industry Survey over the last 11 years, and the data collected is used to determine the size and impact, in terms of procedures and revenues, of the cosmetic dentistry market. The 2015 State of the Cosmetic Dentistry Industry survey supports earlier data that the field of cosmetic dentistry continues to flourish and show persistent growth potential.
The 2015 survey was conducted between September and November of 2015 and garnered responses from 360 dental professionals. The survey includes a snapshot of current cosmetic dental practice and patient demographics, plus some encouraging findings relating to the profitability of offering cosmetic procedures. In fact, revenue from cosmetic dentistry procedures showed a four-point increase in the top three tiers of the survey ($500,000 to more than $1 million) since 2013.
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This trend isn’t surprising considering cosmetic procedures continue to be popular with patients seeking cosmetic treatments for a number of reasons including: to improve physical attractiveness and self-esteem (86%); for restorative or heath reasons (46%); to look and feel younger (45%); and anticipated upcoming events like weddings (48%). These patients are most frequently electing whitening treatments, veneers, crowns or bridgework, and bonding—procedure types that survey respondents say have either stayed the same or generated more revenue from the previous year to present. The expectation held by the majority of respondents is that these procedures will continue to generate the same amount of revenue or more in the coming year, with the greatest expectation being that dental implants will continue to see the most positive change.
The 2015 survey findings are reassuring for dentists who already offer cosmetic procedures in their practice and should be catalyzing for dentists who don’t. Sixty percent of respondents identified themselves as general dentists, strongly suggesting that cosmetic procedures are no longer exclusively in the realm of a few practitioners—though specialized training in cosmetic procedures is important in order to provide patients esthetically pleasing, predictable, and long-lasting results. The AACD is a valuable resource for continuing education in comprehensive cosmetic dentistry, and as more and more general dentists add cosmetic procedures to their repertoire, AACD membership may be the differentiating factor for discerning cosmetic patients.
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As part of the AACD’s mission to advance excellence in the art and science of comprehensive cosmetic dentistry and encouraging the highest standards of ethical conduct and responsible patient care, the Academy provides authoritative, accurate and useful information to the public and the profession, including the biennial State of the Industry Survey.
Source: AACD press release 15 January 2016
