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The american dental dream.
1a Department of Communication , University of South Florida.
Health Communication
|September 27, 2014
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.
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.