Agents in Delaware, Mississippi, and Maryland may want to recommend dental insurance to clients, particularly male ones, ahead of St. Patrick’s Day.
According to data obtained by dental technology provider Sikka Software, the day following St. Patrick’s sees a 64% increase in emergency visits to dentists around the country.
While satirical news website
The Onion poked fun of stereotypical holiday traditions with a video titled “Boston Mayor Throws Out First Punch At St. Patrick's Day Parade,” alcohol-fueled violence may be one of the prominent causes behind the rise in dental emergencies.
"Yes, dentists are very busy the day after we celebrate St. Patrick," Dr. Page Barden, a dentist in Cumming, Georgia, told CNBC. Dr. Barden particularly sees a surge in individuals who “become clumsy and fall down, doing a face plant in the sidewalk,” and “biting someone they have offended in the fist with their teeth.”
While the percentage of emergency incidences varies state by state, it increases above a typical month’s average in all except Vermont. Somewhat surprisingly, however, the states that experience the most emergency dental trips do not necessarily have a higher concentration of Irish ancestors.
The top five states for dental mishaps are:
- Delaware
- Mississippi
- Maryland
- Nebraska
- Utah
For some reason, this phenomenon is more prevalent among men than women, as female revelers experience a slight drop in emergency visits nationally. There are exceptions, however, with Texas and Rhode Island women rivaling their male counterparts with an increase of 39% and 32%, respectively.
Although it’s a day late and not in the form of a four leaf clover, dentists around the U.S. probably appreciate all the green they see every March 18 as a result of St. Patrick’s partygoers.
