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Smile for the camera...or not - 21 November 2007

The British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry has announced the results of its latest extensive survey of the public, highlighting consumer attitudes to both cosmetic dentistry and oral health. Over two thousand members of the public were asked not only about their own smiles, but also what they considered to be the best celebrity smile.

Over 30 per cent of those featured in the survey admitted to being concerned about the state of their smile, while nearly a third admit to concealing their teeth when they have photographs taken. Meanwhile, only one in four of the population says that they are happy with their smile and do not want to change it.

Among celebrities, Kylie Minogue and George Clooney were voted to have the best smiles in the media, while in second place among the women was Julia Roberts, who is apparently the most-requested smile in American cosmetic dentistry clinics.

The survey shows that incidence of cosmetic surgery among the British population remains steady at around a quarter of respondents, but there is a significant sea-change in the types of procedures requested. Less people admit to having had tooth whitening procedures, while there has been a large rise in the numbers requesting veneers or bonding treatments. Also on the rise is the use of white fillings, as opposed to the traditional darker fillings.

According to Dr. David Bloom, dentist and BACD President-Elect “The decrease in whitening numbers seems to coincide with a significant rise in demand for other procedures, which could be accounted for by the fact that teeth whitening is more typically the initial step in order for subsequent treatments to be matched to the colour of one’s teeth. Once some form of cosmetic treatment has been started it often sparks a drive for more: thus, one might expect a significant rise in requests for other treatments other than teeth whitening amongst those who have given cosmetic dentistry a try.”

 

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