Personal debt and a lack of insurance are driving Generation Z patients to skip dental care, but there is one way to potentially bring them back in, according to Barry Lyon, DDS.
Dr. Lyon, dental director for Main Street Children’s Dentistry and Orthodontics and Dental Care Alliance, recently spoke with Becker’s to discuss how to get Gen Z patients back in the dental office.
Editor’s note: This Q&A is part of a weekly series featuring Dr. Lyon focused on topics in the dental industry and DSO field. The views expressed are those of Dr. Lyon and do not necessarily reflect those of Main Street Children’s Dentistry and Orthodontics or Dental Care Alliance.
This response was lightly edited for clarity and length.
Dr. Barry Lyon:
Adults ages 18-35 were the most likely of all age groups to forego dental visits. This group consists mostly of Generation Z, those born between 1997 and 2012. Let’s examine why.
Gen Z are often described as feeling entitled, embracing diversity, financially cautious and always on their phones. Common conflicts include not showing up on time, and primarily communicating digitally. So, why aren’t they going to the dentist? The answer appears to be one based on the cost of dental care. Gen Z has some of the highest personal debt among other generations, averaging an astounding $94,101.
In a Jan. 11 Washington Post article, Dr. Tricia Quartey, a New York dentist and consumer adviser spokesperson for the American Dental Association, said she and her colleagues see young adults who put off dental care after aging out of their parents’ insurance or while moving around for college and jobs. In addition, many of the ground floor jobs held by Gen Z fail to provide dental insurance and create a financial burden that prevents them from seeking care.
A recent survey performed by Risas Dental and Braces found that 34% of people are seeking oral health advice on social media. “Digging deeper, we found that men are slightly more likely to turn to platforms like TikTok and Instagram for advice (37%) compared to around 31% of females,” they said. Among Gen Z, 53% of responders said social media is used for dental advice.
The evidence is clear, if you want to inform and attract Gen Z to your offices, have a presence on platforms such as YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.
