3 Million Get Their Teeth Into DIY Dentistry

Main Category: Dentistry
Article Date: 18 Feb 2009 - 7:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions

Around 3 million people have resorted to DIY dentistry, with a further 3 million knowing someone else that has, according to new research* by Which?

People would rather check their bank balance, go to the gym or face a packed Ikea on a Saturday afternoon instead of going to the dentist so it's easy to see why so many people are having a crack at it themselves.

Of those trying DIY dentistry, 26 per cent have tried to pull a tooth using pliers and 12 per cent have tried doing this using a piece of string tied to a door handle. Three in ten DIY dentists (30 per cent) have tried to whiten their teeth with household cleaning products.

Other DIY procedures people admitted to include using household glue to stick down a filling or crown (11 per cent), popping an ulcer with a pin (19 per cent) trying to mend or alter dentures (8 per cent) and trying to stick down a loose filling with chewing gum (6 per cent).

The research comes as Which? launches a campaign** to find out what the real problems are with dentistry today. The consumer champion is calling on people to share their stories - good or bad - about their dental treatment at http://www.which.co.uk/dentistry.

Which? health campaigner, Jenny Driscoll, says:
"This research shows the desperate measures people will resort to. Everyone should have access to good quality dental treatment so it's worrying to see so many people resorting to doing it themselves.

"It's not just the thought of going to the dentist that can bring us out in a cold sweat. For many, actually getting good treatment can be a real ordeal. Which? wants to get to the root of the problem by hearing people's stories about going to the dentist."

Notes

*Which? carried out an online survey of 2,631 adults aged 16+ in England from 19th January to 4th February 2009.
8 per cent have tried DIY dentistry
8 per cent know someone who has tried DIY dentistry
The population estimates were based on there being 41 million adults aged 16+ in England.
** Since the introduction of the new NHS dentist contracts in 2006 there has been growing concern over access to NHS dental care. The Government recently initiated an independent review of NHS dentistry in England, which will report back later this year. Which? will be making a submission to this review and is currently carrying out detailed research to build an accurate picture of the state of NHS dentistry.

Which