Delta Dental Poll: Tooth Fairy Rate Topping 6 Bucks In CT, Northeast

GLASTONBURY, CT — A poll conducted by insurance giant Delta Dental is showing that even the Tooth Fairy can’t escape inflation and what she is dolling out in Connecticut and the region topped the $6-per-tooth mark.

Delta Dental's Connecticut roots are in Glastonbury.

According to new Delta Dental findings from its 2023 Original Tooth Fairy Poll, the average value of a single lost tooth during the past year increased 16 percent — from $5.36 to $6.23. The new value represents a record high in the 25-year history of the poll.

Since the poll's inception, the average cash gift left by the Tooth Fairy has surged 379 percent from $1.30 to $6.23 per tooth. At that rate, in 2048, the Tooth Fairy would be leaving 30 bucks under the pillow for a single tooth.

"Delta Dental has been analyzing the Tooth Fairy’s U.S. annual giving trends for a quarter century, highlighting the role of good oral health care habits for children," said Gabriella Ferroni, the senior director for strategic communications at the Delta Dental Plans Association. "We know this time-honored tradition will continue to bring great joy to homes across the country, and we look forward to seeing how the Tooth Fairy's giving changes over the next 25 years. Given the projection, it would be in the Tooth Fairy’s best interest to invest in a larger purse."

Historically, the Original Tooth Fairy Poll has typically mirrored the economy's overall direction, tracking with the trends of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index. This time around, while the average value of a single lost tooth increased 16 percent over the past year, the S&P 500 experienced an 11 percent decline during the same period.

The U.S. regional ranking for the average value of a lost tooth is:

1. South ($6.59): Led U.S. regions with the highest monetary gift for a lost tooth, marking a 14 percent increase since last year’s results.
2. West ($6.25): Increased 53 percent, despite being only two cents higher than the national average.
3. Northeast ($6.14): Dropped below the national average, after leading last year with $7.36 for a lost tooth.
4. Midwest ($5.63): While still trailing the national average, it went up $1.36 (32 percent).

The Original Tooth Fairy Poll was conducted between Jan. 6 and Jan. 19 among 1,000 parents of children ages 6 to 12. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percent.