FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Cindy Hills Sarah Lyle Coleman MULLEN PR (978) 468-1155
1997 ORAL HEALTH SURVEY REVEALS U.S. DENTISTS CITE UNEXPECTEDLY HIGH INTEREST IN TOOTH WHITENING AMONG PATIENTS
-- Six out of seven dentists offer tooth whitening to their patients
-- Half say that their tooth whitening practice increased even more than expected in the last three years
-- One-third of dentists cite periodontal disease and 20 percent cite caries as most pressing oral health issue
-- 43 percent of dentists report volunteering for their community
CANTON, Mass., October 20, 1997 -- Dentists indicate that patients are undergoing professional tooth whitening procedures more than expected and cite the leading reason as the desire to look younger, according to the 1997 American Dental Association (ADA)/Colgate Oral Health Trend Survey. In addition, the survey reveals that dentists view maintaining good oral hygiene, periodontal (gum) disease, and caries (tooth decay) as the most pressing oral health issues.
The computerized survey, sponsored by Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals at the ADA's annual session, poled 580 U.S. dentists about general oral care trends. The survey, in its sixth year, was administered by Pathfinder Research group of Acton, Mass., an independent opinion and market research firm specializing in trend and leadership studies.
Tooth Whitening on the Rise, Gum Disease and Caries Pressing Dental Concerns
Eighty-four percent of dentists offer tooth whitening as part of their practice, and half (48 percent) say that their tooth whitening increased even more than expected in the last three years. Dentists report that both men and women cite wanting to look younger as the leading reason for undergoing tooth whitening, and, interestingly, indicate that the most common age of patients receiving tooth whitening is between 31 and 35. In addition, 55 percent of dentists say that their male patients are asking more frequently about tooth whitening than three years ago, and 79 percent say that women are asking more than before.
"The increase in the number of patients asking their dentists about whitening is good news," says Dr. Christine Dumas, consumer advisor of the American Dental Association. "Dentists can administer ADA-Accepted whitening procedures after a thorough oral exam, ensuring that patients are appropriate candidates for whitening."
"As more patients are experiencing better oral health and keeping their teeth longer, they want their teeth to look as good as they feel," says Dr. Christopher Fox, director of Global Professional Relations for Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals. "However, cosmetic dentistry can only do so much. According to the majority of dentists surveyed, the most pressing oral health issues are maintaining good oral hygiene, periodontal disease, and tooth decay, so professionals must partner with their patients to educate them about the importance of regular dental visits and maintaining good oral health between dental visits."
Forty-five percent of dentists report maintaining good oral hygiene as the most pressing oral health issue, followed by periodontal disease (32 percent) and caries (20 percent).
Dentists Volunteer in Community
Forty-three percent of dentists volunteer for community outreach programs, most commonly for child-specific oral health initiatives (38 percent), followed by minority-focused oral health initiatives (20 percent) and initiatives for the uninsured (19 percent).
Based in Canton, Mass., Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals is the professional oral care products subsidiary of Colgate-Palmolive. The ADA is a Chicago-based association representing 141,000 U. S. Dentists.
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