Taking Dental Self‐care to the Extreme: 24‐month Incidence of Dental Self‐extractions in the Florida Dental Care Study

Abstract

The phenomenon of dental self-extraction is real and is not limited to residents of developing nations or geographically isolated areas. Because of the potential for prolonged bleeding or bacterial endocarditis in certain population groups, community health clinicians and officials should be cognizant of this behavior.

Use of specific dental treatment procedures by dentate adults during a 24‐month period

“…Instead of visiting a dentist first, and once there, deciding on the treatment (in concert with the dentist), we propose an additional possibility for certain high‐risk groups: that they decide that they are in need of a specific treatment first (usually a dental extraction), and then go to a dentist to get that treatment done. This possibility is consistent with our earlier finding in the FDCS that not all dental care occurs in the dental office: some persons remove their own teeth (7% of FDCS participants who lost at least one tooth in the first 24 months of follow‐up) instead of going to a dentist (24).…”

“…The content of the questionnaire and test–retest reliability of questions have been described previously (22–26). The actual wording of all items can be found at the Internet site cited in the Acknowledgments section.…”

Coping with Toothache Pain: A Qualitative Study of Low‐Income Persons and Minorities

“…A number of participants mentioned taking drastic actions to obtain pain relief, including rinsing with caustic substances such as gasoline, kerosene, and rubbing alcohol, as well as self‐extractions and extractions performed by nondentists. Self‐ extractions have been documented elsewhere (6) and may be more prevalent than previously realized. Needless to say, these actions represent significant health risks and highlight the continuing need for appro‐ priate consumer education.…”

Twenty–Four Month Coronal Caries Incidence: The Role of Dental Care and Race

“…At the same time, POAs were significantly more negative in their attitudes toward dental health and dental care, as measured by self-reported quality of recent dental care, importance placed on dental visits to prevent dental problems, eventuality of dental decline, influence of dental care costs on past dental treatment, cynicism toward dentists and dental care, effectiveness of dental care, and personal influence on dental decline [Gilbert et al, 1997a]. Furthermore, POAs were the only respondents who engaged in extraction of their own teeth [Gilbert et al, 1998b]. Although POAs use less dental care, they do not compensate by employing more 'conventional' dental selfcare behaviors (e.g., toothbrushing, flossing or cleaning with toothpicks, or changes in diet).…”