Alarm As DIY Dentistry Booms
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- Published: Monday, 01 February 2021 08:24
- Written by Chris Tapper
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Dental patients have been warned not to take ‘matters into their own hands’ after it was revealed that the sale of DIY dentistry first-aid kits nearly doubled in 2020.
The Daily Telegraph reported the increase in sales as experts counselled against people treating themselves during the coronavirus pandemic.
The rise in DIY treatment is believed to be due to patients struggling to find treatment either because of surgery closures or patients’ fears of contracting the virus.
Figures released by Boots said that ‘at-home’ repair kits which facilitate recementing crowns and temporarily replacing lost fillings were up by 87% in the last quarter of 2020, compared to 2019.
The British Dental Association told The Telegraph that 20 million fewer dental treatments were performed in 2020 compared to 2019 and that a backlog of cases may have driven patients to using DIY kits.
Dr Eddie Crouch, Chair of the BDA told The Telegraph “Patients should never have to take matters into their own hands. Sadly, this boom in ’DIY dentistry’ directly reflects the choices made by the Government throughout this pandemic.”
Chief Executive of the Oral Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter, said “DIY home dentistry is a terrible idea and should be avoided at all costs. Home treatments in untrained hands often comprise of shortcuts that come with added dangers and can lead to permanent damage to your health.”
Dr Carter advised that anyone who is experiencing a problem should book an appointment with their dentist, adding “Having been closed at the beginning of the pandemic and dealing with a backlog of patients in the months that followed, most dental practices are now back to relative normality. You should be able to get an appointment. If you think you have been neglecting your oral health lately, or haven’t been to the dentist in a while, my advice is to go and book yourself in for a check-up.”
The Telegraph also reported that the pandemic and lockdowns have similarly led to an uplift in general oral hygiene products. Rex Brown, a toothbrush seller on Ebay, has seen sales up by 100 per cent year on year.
A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “We want everyone to be able to access affordable, high-quality dental care and the government has taken unprecedented action to support the dental sector throughout this pandemic. Since last summer, all practices have been able to open to deliver the full range of face-to-face care. Priority access is expected to be given to urgent care and vulnerable groups, and over 600 urgent dental centres are providing extra support to the dental sector.”
The spokesman added “NHS England have set clear targets for dental surgeries to improve patients’ access to vital NHS services, and we urge people to only undergo dental treatments from qualified and reputable professionals.”
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