DIY Dentistry

[HiHo]

Article on the bbc website about a which survey

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7881865.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7881865.stm)

Personally I agree with the Chief Dental Officer who says "These findings come from an online multiple choice survey that has no statistical credibility. It is ludicrous to suggest that three million people are doing DIY dentistry."

Do that many people really resort to DIY dentistry 

If you have tried it or know someone else that has then please let us know.

[ajwt2]

Here is the breakdown of some of the more popular 'DIY' tasks

"• Using household glue to stick down a filling or crown (11%)

• Popping an ulcer with a pin (19%)

• Trying to mend or alter dentures (8%)

• Trying to stick down a loose filling with chewing gum (6%)"

Apart from the gluing one I'd be suprised if people didn't try to do these things themselves, at least until they got to a dentist. Popping an Ulcer? Well it depends on the ulcer, but that is pretty trivial. And trying to mend dentures, sure if they fall out your mouth you might well try and bend them a bit to get them to fit right before booking an appointment. And the chewing gum thing? Yes I've done that. Filling falls out, annoying gap in tooth, use some chewing gum and then go see the dentist.

The other day i dropped my glasses and the stem bent a bit. I bent it back, does that mean I'm a DIY optician? And a few weeks previously I got a bit of dust in my eye and had to get it out myself, even though I clearly wasn't qualified to do such a procedure. And and yesterday I had a headache and prescribed myself with paracetomal and a mug of hot chocolate - when will this self treating maddness end???