Nationwide DentalInsurance.com Survey: Why Do Consumers Change Dentists?

Issues of patient experience & cost larger considerations for women than men

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Sep 09, 2021, 10:04 ET

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A survey released today by the oldest online marketplace of dental plans explored the dissatisfactions motivating consumers to change dentists. Over 2,000 adults across the United States were asked, "Which of the following issues would make you change your dentist?" The concerns from which respondents could select included economic considerations, general patient experience (e.g. appointments starting late), and the absence of a service expressly tailored to patients with dental anxieties.

More than half of respondents (53.8 percent) had one or more concerns that would make them switch dentists. Out-of-network status was the single most common response given for changing dentists.

Several reasons for dental switching illuminated significant differences between women and men. For example, women were more likely than men to indicate out-of-network status a reason to change dentists (34.1 percent vs 26.5 percent). Women were also twice as likely as men to cite a dentist's criticism of their teeth and oral health as a reason for seeking a new dentist (14.3 percent vs 7.1 percent). Another divide discovered by the survey was that women were 52 percent more likely than men (12.6 percent vs 8.3 percent) to indicate lower costs were grounds for switching.

From a geographic perspective, price sensitivity was most prevalent in the western United states. 13.8 percent of respondents living in the West said they would change dentists because a different practice had lower prices, which was a response rate 31 percent higher than the national average. The region least interested in price was the Midwest where 7.8 of respondents would change dentists to save money.

Despite the prevalence of dental fear (nearly half the population), a lack of sedation dentistry was the least common reason for changing dentists. Only 7.5 percent of adults surveyed said the absence of sedation dentistry would motivate a dentist switch.

Healthcare expert Kev Coleman, who served as the analyst on this survey, commented, "Many dental practices are still suffering from the lower patient volume and lost revenue caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, making customer retention all the more important for their financial stability. The results of this nationwide survey provide an important guide for dentists' efforts to keep their existing clients."

The full report as well as its methodology can be reviewed at "Nationwide Survey Explores Why Consumers Change Dentists."

Launched in 2001 by Mark Kelsey, DentalInsurance.com is the pioneer in the online dental insurance marketplace. DentalInsurance.com is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, and has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

SOURCE DentalInsurance.com