UK Teeth a Whiter Shade of Pale

London UK, 12th March 2007 - The British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the not-for-profit, leading organisation for the advancement and ethical delivery of cosmetic dentistry, today unvieled results for the first-ever members' audit to track industry statistics and reveal the most popular procedures across the UK. Membership to the Academy currently stands at over 650 and Board members have successfully launched the project by having their own private practices audited

Highlights:

• Of over 19.138 cosmetic dentistry cases, women accounted for 60% of all procedures
• Women had almost twice as many teeth whitening procedures than men: (922 v. 536)
• The most dramatic rise has been in the area of porcelain veneers, which went up by a whopping 144%
• A dramatic rise was also recorded in the number of white fillings ('composite artistry' generally used to change the shape, position or colour of front teeth), which more than doubled with an increase of 113%
• The number of white fillings that generally replace silver amalgams (or 'posterior composites') also rose dramatically, by 67%
• Over 55% of all orthodontics were 'invisible', rthare than the traditional metal brackets
• More patients appears satisfied with the results of whitening this year (only 4% 'unhappy' in 2006 v. 12% in 2005)

"This audit has highlighted some fascinating trends, including an increase in the satisfaction about the results of whitening treatments - which I ascribe to people's adjustment of expectations as to what can be achieved. The massive increase in the number of requests for white fillings also demonstrates the British public have become much more image-conscious: this cost-effective treatment tends to be the first step towards further cosmetic dentistry procedures such as whitening and veneers, whcih are extremely popular."

"Clearly, as a society we have become more accepting of cosmetic treatments in general - the demand for veneers is impressive, reflecting the importance we now place on a nice, healthy smile. At the BACD our objective is to promote patient safety and education, and we are able to provide the public with the right information by tracking the most relevant trends."