New Zealand Dental Professionals Warn of Risks in DIY Dentistry Trend

NEW ZEALAND: Dental professionals are raising concerns over a growing trend in New Zealand where individuals, facing financial constraints, resort to at-home dental procedures. 

The New Zealand Dental Association’s chief executive, Dr. Mo Amso (pictured), expressed deep concern, labelling the situation as “absolutely awful.”

“The number one reason that people will attempt dentistry at home is because they cannot afford care,” Dr. Amso highlighted, emphasizing the severity of the issue.

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Irreversible Risks and Infection Dangers

Dr. Amso pointed out the significant risks associated with at-home dental procedures, emphasizing the potential for irreversible damage and the heightened risk of infections. He noted instances where individuals use non-sterile tools, such as pliers, to perform dental work on themselves, equating it to the absurdity of self-surgery with inadequate instruments.

“It’s the equivalent of saying, ‘I’m going to conduct surgery on myself with just a paper mache scissor’ or something like that. You wouldn’t do anything like that to yourself, so why are you doing it with dentistry?” Dr. Amso questioned.

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Dr. Amso highlighted that the most common cases of at-home dentistry involve teeth whitening, with an occasional person resorting to using regular toilet bleach on their teeth. He cited a particularly alarming case on TikTok, where an individual had reportedly damaged their teeth to an irreversible extent.

“In one instance, a person on social media platform TikTok has cut their teeth so ‘irreversibly’, it would likely become much more expensive to fix,” Dr. Amso disclosed.

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Addressing the Cost Barrier

Acknowledging the financial aspect as a significant driver of this trend, Dr. Amso mentioned the efforts made by the Dental Association to make dental care more accessible. 

In response to dentists facing challenges in providing treatment for low-income individuals, the Association successfully advocated for an increase in Work and Income Grants from $300 to $1000.

“That has gone a significant way in making dentistry accessible for people who are on benefits,” Dr. Amso explained.

Encouragement to Seek Professional Help

Dr. Amso encouraged individuals facing financial constraints to communicate openly with their dentists. He suggested discussing concerns about the cost of procedures and exploring options for payment plans, including services like Afterpay. Additionally, he emphasized that some insurance policies now include dental coverage.

“Dentistry can become accessible if you do seek out some help, and we certainly as a profession are doing a lot to try and change that for New Zealand,” Dr. Amso reassured.

The New Zealand Dental Association urges individuals to prioritize their oral health by seeking professional advice and assistance rather than resorting to potentially harmful DIY dentistry practices.

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