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September 30, 2025
In the United Kingdom, reports of people resorting to DIY dentistry — pulling teeth at home, gluing broken fillings, or leaving cavities untreated — have become alarmingly common. A British Dental Association survey found 82% of UK dentists have treated patients who attempted self-care since lockdown, a pattern tied to access gaps and the rise of so-called “dental deserts”.
The situation isn’t much better over the Atlantic. An estimated 72 million Americans lack dental insurance, according to the 2024–2025 CareQuest State of Oral Health Equity in America survey, with so many having to wait until their pain makes it impossible to get care.
The scale is staggering. The World Health Organization calls oral diseases the most common health condition worldwide, affecting nearly 3.7 billion people, while the CDC estimates $46 billion in lost productivity in the U.S. each year due to untreated oral disease. The unifying thread between these crises is that most oral diseases may be avoided, but systemic problems make prevention impossible.