May 19, 2004

By: Thanne Whinfrey
Website: http://www.teeth-whitening-smiles.com

The Dentist – Man's Greatest Fear

When it comes to good oral health, a significant number of men in Massachusetts are failing to make the grade, according to a just released survey conducted by the Massachusetts Dental Society (MDS). And fear of the D word, in this case dentist, may be a major factor.

The online survey, which asked hundreds of dentists statewide their opinions on the differences in attitudes and behavior of their men versus women patients, revealed that 73 percent of those surveyed thought that women schedule more routine checkups and cleanings, as opposed to only 2 percent indicating that men schedule more visits. As a result, the dentists estimate that approximately three times as many men than women eventually require more than routine dental treatment.

Furthermore, when asked who seems more fearful of seeking dental care, 43 percent indicated that men were more fearful, as opposed to 18 percent who believed women were more afraid to go to the dentist. Thirty-nine percent thought men and women were equally fearful. In addition, more than a third of the respondents believed that the most fearful patients were those in the 18-30 age group.

The recent demand for cosmetic dentistry, including whitening treatments, has also caught on far more with women than men. According to the survey, 72 percent of the dentists say that their female patients are more likely to request such procedures, as opposed to only 2 percent of the dentists who believe that men request them more.

In addition to major differences in making dental appointments and requesting certain procedures, the dentists indicated that nearly three times as many women as men routinely floss their teeth. Yet when asked who experiences more gum disease, about half the dentists thought men and women suffer from periodontal disease equally.

I have an equal number of men and women patients in my practice,” says Dr. Arthur Schwartz, a Wakefield periodontist. Although men may have gum disease for various reasons, women tend to experience gum disease while pregnant because their hormone levels increase considerably. And this may be one reason why the percentage of gum disease among men and women is about the same.

The survey also revealed that 57 percent of dentists felt that women are more likely to comply with their professional recommendations than men, while only 4 percent thought that men are more compliant with recommendations made by their dentist.

Even though the survey may reinforce a long-held belief among many in the dental profession that oral health is not a guy thing, times may be changing.

By far, it has been my experience over 30 years of practice, that women present themselves for dental treatment on a much more regular basis than men, says Dr. René Bousquet, MDS president and a general dentist in Plainville.

Although disease processes affect both men and women equally, the impact is more moderate in women due to their positive response to dental needs and treatment. However, I do find that men are increasingly becoming more aware and interested in esthetics and cosmetic dentistry today.

Author Notes:

Thanne Whinfrey contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.teeth-whitening-smiles.com.  Everything you need to know to get a whiter, brighter smile!