WARNING: Graphic images
An Australian dentist has revealed that he once treated a patient who used glue and building materials to hold his mouth together for an entire year.
Dr Sam Koh, principal dentist at Dental Boutique, told 7NEWS.com.au about the craziest things he’s ever seen looking into his patients’ mouths, in an effort to highlight the importance of proper oral care.
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Among his top three was a patient whose DIY dentistry had left him needing emergency treatment from a professional.
Koh said there was “plaque, tartar and tooth decay everywhere”, with four loose teeth held together with plaster of paris and loosely locked in the mouth with denture adhesive.
The patient had used the makeshift treatment for 12 months and could only eat using his two back molars.
Koh said the man was in constant pain.
“Growing up he would have infections and abscesses. He would pop them and never get any treatment,” the dentist told 7NEWS.com.au.
The practitioner recounted another of his troubling cases – the youngest adult he had ever seen needed every tooth extracted.
Koh said he was “constantly taking painkillers and antibiotics as most of his teeth were infected”.
His mouth was always swollen and full of abscesses, the doctor said.
“I had to pull out all the teeth and give him new implant teeth. He was only 22 when we had to do this, but now he has turned his life around,” Koh said.
A third example was the “worst gum disease I’ve ever seen”, with a glue used to hold the patient’s teeth together.
“His teeth were all loose and could move. It held the fronts together with some temporary glue,” Koh said.
The dentist said he shares the stories of people who have come through his clinic to emphasize the importance of oral health, saying the mouth often serves as an indicator of overall wellness.
“Teeth are the first thing people notice when you meet them. They play a key role in our quality of life, from preventing dental pain to enhancing our ability to enjoy food,” he said.
His five tips include brushing twice a day, brushing your tongue, flossing at least once a day before brushing, replacing your toothbrush every three months and visiting the dentist regularly.
“Even if you think your teeth are healthy, regular visits to the dentist are vital. They allow us to prevent problems before they occur and provide guidance on proper dental care techniques,” said Koh.
One in 25 Australians over the age of 15 have no natural teeth.
A recent Senate report on Dental care across Australia found public services they were “overstretched, understaffed and waiting times are prohibitively long (between 12 months and 24 months for non-urgent care).
It also found that there are “no standard fees for dental services and no pricing regulation”, with the average cost for the same service varying “significantly” by state and territory.
“Similarly, dentists rarely advertise their prices, and private health insurance data reveals that some dentists charge different amounts to different patients for the same service,” the report says.
As a result of cost and other factors, 40 per cent of Australians avoid or delay visiting a dentist.
