Are Female Dentists More Caring? The Wealthy Dentist Survey

In this poll, we asked dentists:Are female dentists more caring and nurturing with their patients than male dentists?

Four out of five dentists don't think so. Over eighty percent responded, "No - some dentists are more caring than others; gender has nothing to do with it." Only 17% replied, "Yes - in general, female dentists are more caring than male dentists."

Rural dentists were significantly more likely to feel that women are more caring and nurturing dentists - three to four times more likely than urban or suburban dentists, in fact.

Women were also significantly more likely to vote "Yes" when asked if female dentists were more caring and nurturing with their patients. Nonetheless, the majority of women did not feel that gender played a role in the quality of a dentist's chair-side manner.

For more insight into what our respondents are thinking, check out their comments! Read all comments and see the full results

Most felt gender didn't particularly matter. 

•  I have found that gender does not play a role in patient caring. (Idaho, female orthodontist)


• The most gentle dentist I knew was female, but the least gentle and caring one I knew was also female. (Pennsylvania, male)

Some felt women had a more caring touch.

• I can say from experience that women can be just as rough and insensitive as men. (Missouri, male)


• Women are generally better listeners, and that comes through to the patient as caring. (Illinois, male)

Female dentists were criticized by some. 

• Most women dentists are more unreasonable!! (Illinois, male)


• The problem I have with female dentists is that they generally work far fewer hours and far fewer years than their male counterparts. As far as I'm concerned, they have simply wasted a slot in dental school. (Mississippi, male)

Agree? Disagree? Post your comments!

Comments

[LLW]

After practicing for almost 31 years I'm offended by the comment that generalized women dentists as having wasted a slot in dental schools by a male dentist/responder. Even after 2 late term miscarriages, I've never been off work more than 2 weeks in a row, have never taken the excessive amounts of time off that so many of my male colleagues have done for recreational activities. I've covered their practices as they go off on bear hunts in Alaska and other trips.

Were their "time off" times added up, I think some of the males would compete with the time off that that dentist thinks women are off with their family responsibilities.

[LP]

Your sample came from dentists?

I question your techniques. On all of our office and community surveys, we ask a sample of patients or possible patients. Patients are the market, not dentists.

Does a dentist's opinion on this subject really matter?

Thanks!