In preparation for this week's Chicago Dental Society (CDS) Midwinter Meeting, the organization surveyed nearly 400 Chicago-area residents about their dental habits and dental care.
More than half of survey respondents from Cook, DuPage, and Lake counties have delayed dental treatments, including regular checkups, cleanings, and treatment for a dental problem, because of financial reasons in the past year. Additionally, nearly 35% of survey respondents did not have dental health insurance coverage.
Other questions stressed the importance of an attractive smile; 40% of survey respondents claim a person's smile is the first physical attribute they notice when meeting someone for the first time. In addition, 44% said straight teeth are the most important part of a "perfect" smile, while 25% said bright, white teeth are also key.
More than half of survey respondents said they have tried some kind of teeth-whitening treatment; whitening toothpaste was the most popular, while 10% of respondents had had their teeth whitened at a dentist's office.
When it comes to choosing a dentist, word of mouth still counts, the survey found. Nearly 35% of those surveyed said they found their dentist through word-of-mouth referral, while Internet searches accounted for 14%. Only 2% said they found a dentist through Facebook or Twitter, and only 2% had purchased a Groupon for a dental service.
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