Is Tooth Whitening a Gateway to More Cosmetic Dentistry?
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teeth whitening and cosmetic dentistry press release
In this survey, we asked dentists what percentage of their patients who initially request tooth whitening go on to have additional cosmetic dental procedures. Two out of three dentists reported a conversion rate of less than 40%.
"Whitening opens the door to more cosmetic dentistry," commented one general dentist. Another disagreed, saying, "There sure aren't as many patients beating down my door for cosmetic treatments like LVI and other gurus would have you believe. The kids' karate lessons, the cruise, and the new SUV are all way more important."
Read the dentists' comments for more insight into their thoughts.
Male and female dentists had distinctly different responses. Female dentists reported a higher rate of conversion from tooth whitening patients than did their male colleagues.
Geographic location was not highly correlated with the conversion rate of tooth whitening patients.
For more insight into what our respondents are thinking, check out their comments!
Hello, profits!
- "With tooth whitening, there is only one answer: deep bleaching! Whitening and cosmetic dentistry go hand in hand. 95% of my highest earning cases are cosmetic." (Scotland dentist reporting more than 80% conversion)
- "Excellent introduction to more services." (Utah dentist reporting 40-60% conversion)
- "Money makers." (New York dentist reporting less than 20% conversion)
- "It is the direction dentistry is going, so you either embrace the change or get left behind." (Texas dentist reporting 20-40% conversion)
A slow economy is not good for teeth bleaching
- "As economic times get tougher, these will decrease." (Minnesota dentist reporting less than 20% conversion)
- "Whitening is not popular in blue collar neighborhoods." (Illinois dental student)
- "It appears that the two are related to the economy at the time." (Georgia dentist reporting less than 20% conversion)
- "Marginal success." (Oklahoma dentist reporting less than 20% conversion)
Tooth whitening is an essential part of cosmetic dental work
- "Tooth whitening and cosmetic dentistry go hand in hand!" (Kentucky dentist reporting 40-60% conversion)
- "I'm excited for the dental community as well as the patients. It opens up the door to talking about dentistry. All of my patients understand the importance of revitalizing a healthy mouth, so they are motivated to get the necessary work done for beautiful smiles." (Michigan dentist reporting 40-60% conversion)
- "I think that to give a patient the optimal results prior to any cosmetic procedure, whitening is essential." (Illinois)
Who needs it?
- "Hype, for the average patient." (Pennsylvania dentist who does not offer tooth whitening)
- "Maybe it's just in my area, but there sure aren't as many patients beating down my door for cosmetic treatments like LVI and other gurus would have you believe. The kids' karate lessons, the cruise, and the new SUV are all way more important." (Illinois dentist reporting less than 20% conversion)
Dentists adore tooth whitening and cosmetic services
- "It is the most exciting part of my practice." (Illinois dentist reporting 60-80% conversion)
- "It's my reason for being in dentistry." (Maryland dentist reporting 20-40% conversion)
- "Love it." (Tennessee dentist reporting 40-60% conversion)
- "Awesome services." (Massachusetts dentist reporting 20-40% conversion)
It's a great conversion tool
- "Once you brighten a patient's smile, they start to notice other things in their mouths that they would like to change." (Dentist reporting 40-60% conversion)
- "Whitening opens the door to more cosmetic dentistry." (New Jersey dentist reporting 40-60% conversion)
- "Nice prelude." (Delaware dentist reporting 60-80% conversion)
Patients need to know the facts about whitening
- "Tooth whitening is only temporary, and it has limitations. This has to be stressed to the patient. Cosmetic dentistry should only be done in the patient's best interest. I have seen it completed on some patients who never needed it. A true doctor sometimes has to look beyond a patient's teeth. There has to be a point when you say to a patient, 'You don't need it.' Look at Michael Jackson. More doctors should have said no to him. Unfortunately, some doctors think they can do no wrong." (New Jersey dentist reporting less than 20% conversion)
- "Dentists need to police the public sector out there and drive out the hooligans doing 'mall bleaching' that is unsupervised by a dentist." (Florida dentist reporting more than 80% conversion)
