by Rusty Scribes
Having perfectly straight teeth has been an American obsession for a long time. According to the results of a recent survey by an orthodontic consortium, the majority of Americans perceive people with straight teeth as more likely to be successful. Parents who can afford it, fork out anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 to make sure their kids have a better chance to be in this successful group. It doesn’t always work out that way but the fact that people believe it helps make the Orthodontics industry in America to be valued around 7 billion dollars.
The target market for the orthodontic industry has always been parents of boys and girls from ages 13 through 17. In the last few decades though, we’ve seen an increase in older, independent adults making the decision to get braces in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and even in their 50s. The older market, however, still remains minuscule in comparison to the teenage market.
An orthodontist in Lafayette wants to change all that. Arash Karimi, an orthodontist who practices in Lafayette, claims to have discovered a new market for braces and from what we’ve heard clients are dying to get an appointment at his clinic.
“People want to control what they look like at the very end, and what better way to do that, then make sure they exit into the great beyond with a perfectly straight set of choppers,” he told the Dragonfly Report at his clinic on Moraga Road.
“The aging baby-boomer market is humongous and I am the only orthodontist in the area who is targeting that market. Think about it. Do you want your grandkids last memory of you to be with a crooked smile?” he asked.
Dr. Karimi’s billboards which can be seen all around the bay area have been turning a lot of heads these days. “You’ll look better in your casket,” reads one near a Concord off-ramp.“Be the one that everyone wants to sit next to at Bingo,” reads another in Orinda. “Your lover will want to jump in the casket with you” read a sign in Oakland.
Later, we tried to get one of our staff’s moms an appointment at the clinic to investigate their sales process but they were fully booked until October. Forgive the pun, but it’s clear that this is a business that has teeth in it, and in the money-focused orthodontic world, I’m sure you will start to see many more orthodontists testing the geriatric market.
Dr. Karimi seems to have really struck gold and left us with these words as we were walking out the door of his clinic.
“Vanity has no limits in today’s world and death is the new 80.”
Please tell us what you think about America’s obsession with straight teeth in the comment area below. While you are here, check out our other stories accessible through the home link.