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Related Experiment Videos

The american dental dream.

Nathan Hodges1

  • 1a Department of Communication , University of South Florida.

Health Communication
|September 27, 2014
PubMed
Summary

The pursuit of perfect teeth is a class-based struggle, disproportionately affecting lower socioeconomic groups. This research explores how social class impacts dental health and coping mechanisms for those facing these challenges.

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Area of Science:

  • Sociology
  • Medical Anthropology
  • Cultural Studies

Background:

  • The "American Dental Dream" idealizes straight, white teeth as a cultural norm.
  • Achieving this ideal is often unattainable for individuals in lower socioeconomic strata.
  • Societal pressures regarding dental aesthetics create significant disparities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To deconstruct taken-for-granted assumptions surrounding dental appearance.
  • To investigate the personal, relational, and structural consequences of the "American Dental Dream."
  • To illustrate how social class is inscribed upon the body through dental health.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a mixed-methods approach combining ethnographic fiction and autoethnography.
  • Incorporated poetry and qualitative interviewing to gather rich data.
  • Employed culture-centered "teeth tales" to explore lived experiences.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrates that social class significantly influences the ability to achieve idealized dental aesthetics.
  • Highlights the profound personal and social impacts of dental disparities.
  • Reveals how societal expectations for teeth are unequally distributed across class lines.

Conclusions:

  • The pursuit of the "American Dental Dream" exacerbates social inequalities.
  • Understanding the class-based nature of dental health is crucial for addressing disparities.
  • Offers insights into coping strategies for individuals navigating dental challenges influenced by social class.

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