Source 27

HAVE YOU VISITED A DENTIST IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS?

Percent who answered yes, from worst state to best (including Washington, D.C.):

Rank/state Yes

51. Mississippi 53%

50. Arkansas 55%

49. West Virginia 56%

48. Texas 58%

47. Oklahoma 58%

46. Louisiana 58%

45. Tennessee 59%

44. Kentucky 59%

43. Missouri 60%

42. Montana 61%

41. Alabama 61%

40. Nevada 62%

39. South Carolina 62%

38. New Mexico 63%

37. Florida 63%

36. Indiana 64%

35. Georgia 64%

34. North Carolina 64%

33. Kansas 64%

32. Arizona 65%

31. Wyoming 65%

30. Idaho 65%

29. Ohio 65%

28. Alaska 65%

27. Delaware 66%

26. Maine 66%

25. Oregon 66%

24. South Dakota 66%

23. North Dakota 66%

22. Nebraska 66%

21. Iowa 67%

20. Colorado 68%

19. Illinois 68%

18. Pennsylvania 68%

17. Washington, D.C. 68%

16. California 68%

15. Virginia 68%

14. Washington 69%

13. Michigan 70%

12. Maryland 70%

11. New York 70%

10. Utah 71%

9. New Jersey 72%

8. Vermont 72%

7. Wisconsin 72%

6. New Hampshire 73%

5. Minnesota 73%

4. Rhode Island 75%

3. Connecticut 75%

2. Hawaii 76%

1. Massachusetts 76%



What would prevent people from attending the dentist? These fears may be similar to the fears in India.

COST - Many people use the excuse of “I don’t have any dental insurance.” The facts are many payment plans are available, some with zero interest, which give you financial options to stay within your budget. Everyone is concerned about the budgets-these programs allow you to proceed with your dentistry without breaking the bank.

FEAR – Today with sedation dentistry, the use of medications specifically used in conjunction with your individual medical history and conditions takes fear out of the equation. It is common to hear patients say they never knew it could be done so comfortably-the apprehension is gone. Patients who formerly avoided the dentist now actually look forward to going.

TIME – Let’s face it; everyone is busy- so busy that their dental health gets shoved to the back burner. Next thing you know a dental emergency occurs. With a complete examination and thoughtful planning, sequencing dental needs easily can be contained to fewer appointments. A case in point, root canals use to involve 2, 3, 4 or even 5 appointments. Now they can be done in one appointment! It is common for even cosmetic procedures like veneers to only need 2 appointments.