An online poll administered by the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) to general dentists, found that women are more likely to stick to their regular checkup schedule than their male counterparts. The number of men going to the dentist is on the rise, however, but the motivation behind these dental visits is not overall health. Dr. Deborah Gennero, your Houston dentist, explains how the quest for a better looking smile is behind the surge of male patients in dentist offices.
Men Tend to Avoid the Dentist
Forty-five percent of the dentists questioned believed that their male patients did not see a need to go to the dentist. Embarrassment, lack of time, and not wanting to bother finding a new dentist were also cited as explanations for fewer male patients.
Finding the Edge to Get the Job
AGD spokesperson, Dr. J.Nick Russo, Sr., stated that trends are changing in his personal practice, as men vie for better jobs and promotions. In the past, most men stayed with only one or two companies during their entire career. These days, lay-offs and company closings mean that “middle-aged men are competing for jobs with younger men, making appearance a heightened factor in their lives,” says Dr. Russo. Keeping up with the competition has many men seeking cosmetic procedures like veneers, bonding, and bleaching, to improve their appearance and help with confidence in their professional pursuits.
Overall Health
When it comes to dental appointments, the overall health benefits of bi-annual visits may not cross many men’s minds. Dr. Russo points out that even if it is an aesthetic motivation that gets male patients in to the office, an improvement of their oral health, along with a beautified smile, is the ultimate outcome.
Our West Houston dentist office caters to men, women, and children for preventive, restorative and cosmetic dentistry. To make an appointment with Dr. Gennero, call (281)578-6200. We proudly serve patients from the West Houston and Katy areas.
