There has been an alarming increase in DIY dental procedures amongst the population, with parents taking matters into their own hands – by carrying out dangerous dental procedures at home. There are many potential factors for the increase in DIY dental procedures, namely being the increased advocation of “simple at home procedures” on social media platforms, and the fact that less than 1/3 of dental practices in the UK are accepting new NHS patients, forcing non-registered patients who are enduring insufferable pain, to remove the source of their suffering at home without professional supervision. The ultimate danger of DIY dentistry, despite the obvious reason of being unqualified and potentially harmful, is that it poses a serious threat to the oral health of the patient, leading to the development of severe infections.
DIY dentistry “involves people carrying out treatments such as teeth whitening, repairing cavities and minor orthodontic work at home without professional intervention.” The effects of performing procedures at home could result in irreversible damage to the enamel, making tooth restoration difficult and, in some cases, almost impossible for the dentist. Orthodontic treatment is one which requires great skill and must be performed by a qualified professional in order to satisfy the needs of the patient but also to reduce the likeliness of developing infection or injury. So, although the aesthetic appearance of the oral cavity may not be of primary concern to a patient who is suffering from inextricable tooth pain from dental caries, the movement of teeth may cause the realignment of the jaw, causing the healthy teeth to shift into the spaces of the extracted teeth. This can be damaging since it affects the oral function of the mouth, making it difficult to talk, chew and keep saliva inside the mouth. It also increases the risk of developing dental caries and in turn limits the possibilities of restoring the damaged teeth.
As previously mentioned, some oral treatments may include minor procedures of teeth whitening, which has become a widespread practice across the years, however the extraction and descaling of teeth without “professional intervention” is a major concern since it involves removing part of the tooth, rupturing nerves in the dental pulp. Dental scaling, also known as “teeth scaling , is not a new concept, but since it has been popularised by social media platforms, many people have now started to use this method at home, without professional intervention. It aims to tackle plaque build around the gingival area (gums) by using sharp instruments and careful precision to remove it. Usually, dental scaling is undergone by a dental professional in the dental practice. Local anaesthetic is applied to the gums, in the form of a topical cream, and the dentist uses the scaler, a small, hooked instrument [4], to scrape off the plaque within the periodontal pocket of the gums. A dental curette is then used to smooth the rough edges of the roots of the teeth, enabling the gums to heal back into position and avoid harmful buildup of plaque.
According to dental professionals, teeth scaling is “not something that’s recommended for everyone in the first place”[1]. Usually, the aim of the procedure is to prepare the patient’s tooth for dental examination and X-rays. Furthermore, it is stressed that since the instruments are sharp, only professionals with the knowledge of using them correctly can apply the right amount of pressure to minimise and prevent damage to the surface of the teeth and the gum area. As well as the hundreds of videos uploaded online, encouraging people to try out this “quick and simple method” at home, the scaler instrument, used by dental professionals, is available to buy online, making it easy for anyone to access and use, potentially harming the surface of their teeth and gum area. It is therefore important to understand how plaque can build up and surround the teeth, and how we can prevent its build-up using preventative techniques.
Overall, preventative measures to reduce plaque build-up include the standard procedure of brushing the teeth twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste and flossing the teeth helping to strengthen the enamel, making it more resistant to build up and caries. Teeth scaling is only a procedure which should be carried out by the dental professional, not at home by the patient, because there is the risk of causing injury or infection to the already damaged teeth, furthermore, the patient is not provided with the proper equipment at home so there is the increased risk of the re-growth of plaque on the teeth.
By Ogechi Umeadi