

America’s dental divide


If you were born with white, straight teeth, and a correct bite then…well, you probably don’t exist. America in the past decade has become obsessed with the idea of having perfect teeth. When is the last time you saw an actor or actress rock their natural pearly whites? Exactly, you haven’t. But that’s just it, those who can afford oral care, are receiving it, while those who can’t are suffering.

My younger brother, Luke, showing off his teeth. Photo taken by Audrey Goodemote.

Brace faces and metal mouths are more common than not these days in the middle class. The majority of adolescents are willing to risk the embarrassment, and their parents willing to sacrifice some vacations, for those “perfect smiles.” Meanwhile, those on Medicaid are struggling to get their cavity filled. 

According to Richard Florida, co-founder at The Atlantic Cities, people are more likely to see a dentist in a high income state due to an income inequality.  “The states whose residents are most likely to visit the dentist have some of the lowest uninsured rates in the nation”.  A disturbing study by the American Dental Association found that adults earning under $30,000 a year are more than two times as likely as those earning $30,000 or more a year to have had all their teeth removed.

The obsession with altering one’s appearance is something many industries buy into as a marketing tool. This creates a huge divide between higher income and lower income families; why lower income families often time put dental cosmetics on the back burner. This indicates that your straight/crooked teeth and dental hygiene is more than likely a display of your socioeconomic position.

On the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, (AACD) website, one of their downloadable graphics, features ecstatic individuals, with gleaming smiles, and a cold statistic. “A first impression is made within 30 seconds. 55% of that impression is made by an analysis of one’s appearance – specifically facial attributes”.  or “Research also shows one’s smile is the most vital component of facial attractiveness”. According to a study by the AACD in 1998 over 92% of the adults surveyed believed an attractive smile is an important asset for a significant other.

So perfect, straight, white teeth is much more than a symbol of beauty, it has also become a symbol of class. A sad division due to the age old “rich getting richer” and the poor having to accept Medicaid with a smile. No pun intended.

Audrey Goodemote

One Response

  1. Anne-Marie Sheehan says:

    Bad teeth also has a lot to do with diet. Unfortunately, people living on or below the poverty line eat less fruits and vegetables and more processed foods containing high fructose corn syrup, which rots the teeth. So when you combine a poor diet with lack of dental care, teeth, even teeth with strong enamel, start to decay.