A perfect body or a perfect smile?

by Dental Tribune America

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MADISON, Wis., USA: Consumers say they would pay to fix their teeth before they would pay for weight loss help, according to new research from the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). The findings are good news for cosmetic dentists — they suggest that the demand for cosmetic dentistry is stronger than ever.

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Of the 80 percent of American adults who in a recent poll admitted they would spend money to hide or correct aging flaws, 62 percent said they would pay to fix the quality of their teeth, compared with 48 percent who said they would invest in weight loss help. Women are more likely than men to invest in such improvements (84 percent versus 75 percent).
Nearly half (45 percent) of Americans think a person’s smile can defy aging’s effects while eyes come in a distant second (34 percent). In comparison, very few adults find the following features less likely to age well:

• Body shape (10 percent)
• Hair (6 percent)
• Legs (5 percent)

Perhaps speaking from experience, 54 percent of Americans over 50 attest that a smile can overcome decades of birthdays in contrast to only 38 percent of 18- to 29-year olds.
“A great smile is always in style, and these results prove it,” said AACD President Dr. Ron Goodlin. “Cosmetic dental professionals can rest assured that their services will always be needed.”
The AACD’s research was completed through a survey with Kelton Global in recognition of Healthy Aging Month, which takes place in September. Kelton Global polled 1,018 American adults ages 18 and over questioning them about their attitudes related to aging and beauty.
The AACD Smile Survey was conducted between August 17 and August 23, 2012 among 1,018 nationally representative Americans ages 18 and over, using an email invitation and an online survey. Margin of error = +/- 3.1 percent.
(Source: AACD)