The gender divide

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a man – even in a state of poor health – is seldom in want of a doctor. This is, of course, a crude parody of the famous opening words of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, an account of manners and marriage in Georgian England and not men's use of primary care services in the 21st century. But it is, nonetheless, true that there is now greater awareness of men's sub-optimal use of general practice; however, there has been, as yet, virtually no discussion of men's use of community dental services. This is a significant omission because there are clear and important gender differences in oral health and the use of dental services. Men are far less likely than women to attend for a routine check-up, to brush their teeth twice a day, to replace their toothbrush appropriately or to use interdental aids. They are also more likely to consume alcohol at hazardous levels, to smoke (although the gap between men and women has narrowed in recent years) and to have a poorer diet.