New survey shows more than 40% of Brits would like to change their smile
A new survey shows that more than 40% of British adults want to improve the look of their smile.
Historically, the US has always outperformed the UK in terms of the popularity of cosmetic treatments, but new research shows that the tables could be turning. A poll by RealSelf suggested that 76% of UK adults wanted to change something about their appearance, with 43% admitting that they would like to enhance their smile with veneers, tooth whitening or invisible braces. In the UK, 41% of people are considering undergoing cosmetic treatment in the next 12 months, compared to 37% of those surveyed in the USA. Cosmetic treatment was a particularly enticing prospect for young people aged between 18 and 34, with 62% suggesting that they might have treatment in the next year. This figure was much higher than the over 35’s demographic, with just 28% thinking about making changes.
In both countries, the main motivation for having cosmetic treatment was to improve self-esteem and confidence (43%). This was followed by wanting to ‘look as good as you feel’ (35%) and to combat ageing and look younger (22%). Some people also said that they were considering having cosmetic treatment to look their best for a special occasion, such as a wedding, a landmark birthday or a milestone anniversary.
Dentists across the UK have witnessed a sharp increase in the popularity of treatments like veneers and tooth whitening in the last five years. The rising popularity of the selfie and reality TV programmes are thought to have contributed to this trend.
