Early results from the Academy of General Dentistry's (AGD) national SmileLine, held Friday, July 18, revealed consumers want to learn more about cosmetic dentistry. Consumers' tooth whitening questions rang in as the top dental concern.
During the SmileLine, more than 500 consumers across the nation and Canada called 1-800-SMILE-33 (1-800-764-5333) to take advantage of talking one-on-one for free with dental experts attending the AGD's annual meeting in Nashville, Tenn.
Early results reveal:
-- Middle-aged adults, from 35-54, topped the list of callers.
-- Cosmetic dental concerns topped the list of questions. The most popular concern was teeth whitening. Consumers were also interested in bridges and dentures as well as periodontal questions about gingivitis, gum disease and tooth loss.
** Many adults had questions about their child's oral health including:
-- When a child should make their first trip to the dentist
-- How to prevent early childhood tooth decay
-- How to prevent and treat children's dental emergencies
** Other top dental concerns included endodontics, cavities, implants and halitosis.
"Most people know that neglecting their oral health means risking cavities and gum disease," says Manuel Cordero, DDS, MAGD, 2003 SmileLine Coordinator. "These conditions are directly related to tooth loss, especially as we age. Today, people want and expect to keep their teeth throughout their lifetime. To do this, one must make proper oral health care a priority."
Advice given during the SmileLine, which is celebrating its 12th national anniversary this year, has helped put more than 15,000 consumers' dental questions and fears to rest, and has strengthened and encouraged the patient's relationship with the dentist.
Co-sponsored by Kodak Dental Products, Bisco Dental, Colgate and Zila Pharmaceuticals, the SmileLine, dentistry's first national hotline, continues to raise consumer awareness about oral health, new dental technology and the options available to maintain a healthy and beautiful smile.
After calling the SmileLine, more than 100 consumers still needed to find a dentist and called the Academy's 1-877-2X-A-YEAR (1-877-292-9327) dentist referral service. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, this free service connects consumers with up to three general dentists in their area. The service also provides more information on the Academy of General Dentistry and callers can request a free dental health brochure.
The AGD's SmileLine Online section at www.agd.org enables consumers to post dental health questions online and have them answered by an AGD member dentist. Click on the "Ask a Dental Question" link on the AGD web page.
The Academy of General Dentistry is a non-profit organization of more than 37,000 general dentists dedicated to staying up-to-date in the profession through continuing education. A general dentist is the primary care provider for patients of all ages and is responsible for the diagnosis, treatment, management and overall coordination of services related to patient's oral health needs.
