Patients ask dentists about whitening and bleaching their teeth more frequently than any other topic, according to results from the American Dental Association's (ADA) 2003 Public Opinion Survey: Oral Health of the U.S. Population. The survey revealed 19.3 percent of patients posed questions to their dentists about tooth whitening, up 8.3 percentage points from the 2001 Public Opinion Survey. It also showed women as more likely to have used tooth-whitening products than men.
But ADA Consumer Advisor Dr. Matt Messina advises patients to consult their dentists to determine the most appropriate whitening treatment.
"This is especially important for patients with many fillings, crowns and extremely dark stains. A thorough oral examination is essential to determine if bleaching is an appropriate course of treatment," he explains.
Queries about dental insurance were the next most frequent at 14.6 percent, a rise of 3.1 percentage points from the same question in the 2001 survey.
Rounding out the top five questions patients asked their dentists are cosmetic procedures at 11.4 percent, down slightly from 2001's 12.1 percent; new dental technologies at 11.2 percent, down somewhat from 2001's 11.8 percent; and dental fees, unchanged at 9.2 percent.
The top five questions also were the most frequently asked of dentists by patients in the 2001 Public Opinion Survey.
The survey, by Zogby International in December 2003, consisted of telephone interviews with a nationally representative sample of 1,014 adults aged 18 years and older who identified themselves as the head of household.
The not-for-profit ADA is the nation's largest dental association, representing more than 149,000 members. The premier source of oral health information, the ADA has advocated for the public's health and promoted the art and science of dentistry since 1859. The ADA's state-of-the-art research facilities develop and test dental products and materials that have advanced the practice of dentistry and made the patient experience more positive. The ADA Seal of Acceptance long has been a valuable and respected guide to consumer and professional products. For more information about the ADA, visit the Association's Web site at www.ada.org.