Increase in DIY dentistry
Recent reports have indicated that there has been an increase of members of the public undertaking DIY dentistry. This is particularly the case in areas with poorer demographics, such as the north-east of England.
It was revealed by the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF) that one in five people admitted that they would carry out DIY dentistry, which included actions such as pulling out their own teeth, due to being unable to afford to visit the dentist. A survey carried out by the BDHF found that 17% of people would remove their own teeth. The survey also provided examples of people pulling out the wrong tooth, which, as a result, caused the individual to suffer from infections.
Although it is impossible to determine the exact figures to show the extent of DIY dentistry, it is common knowledge that DIY dental repair kits are available for under £5. These kits can be found on the high street in shops such as Asda, or online from retailers such as Amazon. Research by the newspaper The Guardian revealed that the largest seller of dental first aid packages, DenTek, sells over 250,000 kits per year.
Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the BDHF, stated that DIY dentistry is ‘both dangerous and unnecessary’. He continued to say that those undertaking DIY dentistry could ‘make the problem worse, which could result in more invasive and expensive treatments’.
Although the Department of Health has been quoted as saying that the reports of DIY dentistry are ‘anecdotal’, and states that the official figures show that the majority of people are getting dental treatment from the NHS, it has been reported that the dental charity Dentaid, which focuses its efforts on improving the oral health of developing countries, has mooted providing a mobile dental aid unit for the UK.
