Congratulations Connecticut and Massachusetts
In a recent Gallup poll done in order to establish frequency of yearly dental visits of residents of the 50 states, Massachusetts and Connecticut scored at the top of the list! Congratulations to all! 75.3% of MA residents, and 74.4% of CT residents reported that they had visited a dentist in the last year. From the survey, it appears that Northerners may find their way to the dental office more than Southerners. Eight of the ten top states for most visits were northern states; compared to nine of the bottom ten states for least visits were southern states.
Dental insurance does seem to play a role in residents visiting the dentist; with nearly 72% of the top ten states report that the patients were covered by insurance compared to 56% of the bottom ten states' residents.
Poor oral care can lead to a host of negative health outcomes. Risk factors from poor oral health include but are not limited to heart disease, stroke, artherosclerosis, some types of arthritis and diabetes. Low weight births and premature deliveries of new borns are also associated with poor oral hygiene.
From our office to the Northern states: KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!
Studies referenced: Fallup-Healthways Welll-Bein Index, Jan. 2011-June 2011
