Rise in dental treatment due to 'celebrity smile'

Increasingly large numbers of young people are seeking unnecessary cosmetic dental treatment to prefect a 'celebrity smile', according to an Irish dental researcher.

Actor and pop stars who spend thousands of euro on cosmetic dentistry are setting a trend for "image-conscious young adults" causing them to worry excessively about the health of their teeth, says Dr Finbarr Allen, a senior lecturer at the University Dental School and Hospital in Cork.

Research conducted in Britain and Ireland found that even though statistics show younger generations enjoy better oral health than ever, they are more likely to complain about tooth problems and worry about the appearance of their teeth than older men and women.

Dr Allen, who was a member of the research team, believes Irish people are also following this trend. "The demand for cosmetic treatments is getting higher and higher. We find Irish people are increasingly having their teeth bleached, veneered and straightened, particularly people between the ages of 20 and 40."

Bleaching, one of the most popular treatments, can cost €200 to €300, while more extensive treatments, such as crowns, can rise to €1,000 per tooth.

"People are having bleaching like they're getting false finger nails put on. Excessive bleaching makes the teeth look chalky and can damage the enamel over time."

Young people are developing unnecessary worries about minor imperfections, he adds.

"People like us are trained to eliminate disease, but arguments are growing for carrying out cosmetic work on the ground that people can be psychologically affected by the appearance of their teeth," he says.

Researchers analysed results from major dental surveys carried out in Britain and Australia, which included an element where adult participants aged 18 and over reported their perceptions of the health of their teeth and gum and the impact on their daily life in a questionnaire.

Participants were asked 14 questions on dental health and were asked to rank how detrimental they perceived particular problems to be.

Losing teeth made a big impact on quality of life but once this was taken into account, the lowest total score was reported for the 70-plus age group, meaning they perceived their oral health to have a lesser impact on the quality of life. This is despite the fact that older people usually have more problems with their teeth.

The highest questionnaire score was reported for the group aged 30-49 years, with the participants aged 30 and under getting the second-highest score, despite having generally healthier teeth.