You may feel that your patients don’t see you as often as they should. But would you believe that they really do want to see you more frequently? According to a survey by Delta Dental, 41% of American adults say they don’t go to the dentist as often as they’d like. Considering other clinicians, 28% of adults say they would like to see their dermatologist more often, and 23% say they don’t see their general practitioner as much as they should.
Also, the survey reported that adults who give their oral health an “A” grade are 24% less likely to put the dentist at the top of the list of health practitioners they want to see more. Those who brush their teeth less than twice a day want to go more than those who brush at least twice a day—52% versus 28%, respectively.
“Seeing the dentist regularly is an important part of maintaining good oral health,” said Bill Kohn, DDS, the Delta Dental Plans Association’s vice president of dental science and policy. “We’re at least glad to see that even those who aren’t getting to the dentist as often as they’d like recognize the importance of making more time to do so.”
Additionally, good oral health can lead to a boost in confidence and overall well-being, according to the survey:
- 70% of American adults agree there is a connection between oral health and overall health.
- Adults who are extremely satisfied with their oral health rate their overall well-being as very good (48%) compared to those who report they are not satisfied (28%).
- 63% feel that good oral health helps them feel confident on a daily basis, more so than having clear skin (56%) or being in shape (50%).
The Adult Oral Health Survey was conducted between December 16, 2015 and January 14, 2016, among a nationally representative sample of 1,025 Americans age 18 years and older, with a margin of error of ±3.1%.
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