Not-Quite-Routine – A Roundup Of Unusual Dental Stories
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- Published: Friday, 30 July 2021 09:49
- Written by Chris Tapper
- Hits: 1708
If you anticipated that the newly updated Standard Operating Procedure guidance would bring joy and excitement at the prospect of an end to the shackles of fallow times, you were probably, like many, seriously underwhelmed.
So, in an attempt to inject you with a little dental cheer, GDPUK presents you with some of the more bizarre dental stories we discovered from around the globe over the past few days.
Not another DIY tooth-pulling story, surely?
Well, not quite.
This one occurred in Reno, Nevada, but it had a slight twist.
Global News reported that Laurel Eich, a former dental assistant (dental nurse), broke into her old employers dental practice and ‘played dentist’ without a medical licence.
“Ms Eich, allegedly told the Washoe County sheriff’s office that she extracted 13 teeth of an unwilling patient by using anaesthetic her employer had discarded,” according to NewsWorldAmericasUS.
Laurel Eich – Removed 13 teeth on an ‘unwilling’ patient
“The incident came to light as police were investigating a May 3rd break-in at a dental office on Sun Valley Boulevard. Officers found a broken window and an open door at the site of the burglary, with $22,861 in cash and checks stolen, the sheriff’s office said in a news release.”
After the investigation, she told the detectives that she also broke in to perform the tooth extractions.
The woman has been charged with two counts of burglary and one count each of grand larceny, conspiracy to commit burglary and perform surgery on another without a medical license.
The woman had allegedly performed the illegal tooth extractions before the break-in on a different date, according to the release from local police.
“It is not known what she did with the teeth or why she pulled them out,” the website said.
Would a photograph work just as well?
Meanwhile in Australia, a jeweller has a thriving business, using teeth to make rings and necklaces for grieving loved ones, according to the Mail Online.
“Jacqui Williams, 29, creates jewellery using the remains of dead people,” wrote Tom Sergeant.
The goldsmith, who lives in Melbourne uses teeth and even hair to create the jewellery for grieving families.
Each custom-made piece can take up to eight weeks to create. Prices can range from $350 to over $10,000.
Facebook has recently shown work by other jewellers who have similarly mounted extracted teeth in rings and necklaces.
Ms Williams, who sells her pieces through her business Grave Metallum Jewellery told The Mail Australia that she first became interested in the grieving process when she lost her best friend a few years ago.
“Ms Williams is a strong believer that loss is easier to deal with when shared.”
“I do this work because I want to help people deal with their grief and loss as it’s something that is guaranteed for every living thing,” reported The Mail.
Back in the dental world…
A teenager in India underwent surgery to remove 82 teeth from his lower jaw.
Nitish Kumar, a 17-year-old had the bilateral compound odontoma’s removed from his mandible, at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences in Patna.
“Over the years, his condition worsened due to lack of treatment. Ahead of the surgery, his scans revealed that his jaw had severe swelling. The scans showed that his face was distorted due to the excess teeth and a huge collection of teeth were seen sitting at the bottom of his jaw in two huge lumps,” wrote India.com.
The surgery reportedly took three hours to successfully remove the tumour and the teeth.
“He came with complaint of swelling and pain in jaw. After examination, we diagnosed that he had Complex Odontoma, a rare jaw tumor,” Dr Priyankar Singh, told India.com.
“During the operation, we found that parts of teeth were accumulated in the back of the jaw that could develop 82 teeth. The patient is healthy now and will be discharged soon,” he said.
But back in the ethereal world of TikTok…
A TikTok user told her 24,000 followers of her tip for cleaning stain from teeth, using a household cleaning product.
User @theheatherdunn told viewers in a video that she had been using a Mr Clean Magic Eraser on her teeth for years.
The video now appears to have been removed from TikTok, although for a short-time the video carried a warning that if followed, the tip "could cause serious injury, IFL Science reported.
James Felton reported the TikTok user said "I am prepared for all the dentists that are going to come on here and be like, ’don’t do it, she’s crazy’," she said in the video, which has over 255,000 likes.
"I don’t care. I go to the dentist, and I don’t tell them what I do, but they’re like, ’You have the healthiest, strongest, cleanest teeth.’ And I’m like, ’Why thank you.’"
Shas produced a video saying that fluoride has caused a skin condition around her mouth.
@theheatherdunn Reply to @jakethekid66
♬ original sound - Heather Dunn
“Going on to say that she does not use fluoride and that she also uses coconut oil, she then demonstrates that she breaks off a bit of a magic eraser, before rubbing it over her teeth and avoiding the gums, adding "I’ve been doing it for, like, two years."
Occasional GDPUK contributor @DentistGoneBadd gave his opinion to IFL Science, under his pseudonym, Ollie Jupes.
He told the website “TikTok really should put out an oral health warning on each posting – like a picture of a toothless crone from the French Revolution,”
“The manufacturers of Magic Eraser actually warn that the product shouldn’t touch the skin. Apart from being very abrasive – akin to sandpaper – the melamine foam also contains a formaldehyde-containing compound – a substance you would find most dental professionals wouldn’t want anywhere near their mouths.”
"Bodies are embalmed with formaldehyde.”
“The problem isn’t just limited to TikTok. Jupes says that he has seen similar YouTube videos that recommend brushing your teeth with other substances, such as bicarbonate of soda and lemon juice.”
“The lemon effectively softens the enamel of the tooth and the bicarbonate removes the soft layer. This can lead to sensitivity, especially if the dentine near the neck of the tooth by the gums, is involved."
“Would you pour acid on your skin, then try and rub it off with Brillo Pads? Hopefully not, but there is probably someone out there who has tried it on TikTok. Don’t do it!”
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