Why 1 in 3 Middle-Aged Americans are Embarrassed by their teeth

A national poll taken by the University of Michigan on Healthy Aging found that a third of Americans between the ages of 50 and 64 have said the condition of their teeth has caused pain, difficulty eating, missed work, and other health problems.

56% of respondents also say that they only seek dental care for serious dental problems. Lack of adequate dental insurance seems to be the main issue as overall, 28% of respondents reported not having any sort of dental coverage. Looking to the future, over half of the respondents did not know how they would obtain dental insurance once they turned 65.

When you visit a dentist, it is the dentist’s job to make you a treatment plan based on your oral health needs. It’s your right to decide whether or not you want to go ahead with any treatment. If you don’t have a dental plan, Dr.Ross Shahriary and staff can help to give you information about the options available to you.

The good news is that by brushing, flossing and visiting your dentist regularly for dental exams (which are less expensive than fixing serious dental problems) you can avoid costly dental treatment.