NPR: Study: British Pulling Their Own Teeth

Study: British Pulling Their Own Teeth

OK, there are lots of jokes about the allegedly sorry condition of British teeth. But this is weird.

A new report from Britain's Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health finds that 6 percent of those surveyed had treated themselves, including pulling out their own teeth or using superglue to put crowns back on. (Not just a stiff upper lip there.)

The self-treatment is being attributed to the declining number of dentists covered by Britain's state-financed medical system.

The Independent reports that "one person questioned in Lancashire spoke of carrying out 14 separate extractions with pliers."

5:18 PM ET | 10-15-2007 | permalink

Comments

This is an interesting problem, really, because people in some areas have no problem getting access to NHS dentists, and for others it seems to be impossible. Personally, I have a fabulous NHS dentist and they took great care of me when I had a serious abcess just before Christmas 2006.

With all that goes on in the UK, I really hate that it's stories like these that seems to make it to the US.

Sent by Emily | 10:56 AM ET | 10-16-2007

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