Tax Refunds Drive More Oral Plastic Surgery
A survey of 255 periodontal patients in Spring, 2004 conducted by the American Academy of Periodontology found that 35% of respondents planned to use their tax refund to get oral plastic surgery, beating home improvement (10%), vacation (4%) and regular plastic surgery (5%). Oral surgery tied “paying off debt.”
83% of the respondents to the survey say that nice looking teeth and gums were extremely important; 15% somewhat important and 2% said not important.
On a complimentary survey of Periodontists, 31% said that they performed most of their oral plastic surgery procedures between April and June of each year. Root coverage was the most popular common procedure (55%) followed by crown lengthening (22%) and dental implants (21%).
73% of respondents undergo the procedure to improve how they look; 5% do it to build their confidence and 1% do it to look younger.
The survey was conducted among Periodontal patients and the sample consisted almost entirely of women. Whether these results are in any way consistent with the public at large is questionable.