Of Teeth And Toilets

What happens when National Healthcare doesn’t work out as advertised?

Large numbers of people are going without dental treatment and some even report extracting their own teeth because they cannot find an NHS dentist in their area, a survey reveals today.

The Dentistry Watch survey of more than 5,000 people, from the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health, found widespread unhappiness among both patients and dentists despite government reforms to increase the availability of NHS dentistry. More than three-quarters of those who have a private dentist consider they were forced into it because their own dentist went private or they could not find an NHS dentist.

That means some people had to pay for dental care, after they paid higher taxes for free dental care.

But 6% of the respondents said they were self-treating, which often included pulling out their own troublesome teeth. “Fourteen teeth have had to be removed by myself using pliers,” said one Lancashire respondent. “Have pulled teeth out before, easier than finding a dentist,” said one in Hull. “Because I could not afford the treatment cost, I had to extract my own tooth on one occasion,” said one in Harrow. “I took most of my teeth out in the shed with pliers. I have one to go,” said another in Wiltshire.

Some of the respondents show considerable ingenuity. “Filled own teeth – clove oil and Polyfilla,” said one in Essex. Another fixed a crown with Superglue and a third used a screwdriver to scrape off plaque…

Toilet training goes on till the very end:

SimJae-Duck was born in a toilet and now he plans to die in one- a $US1.6 million dollar toilet shaped house designed to promote his tireless campaign for cleaner loos worldwide.

…The showcase loo will feature a device producing a mist to make users feel secure. An electronic sensor will raise the lid automatically when people enter, and there will also be music for patrons.

The house, complete with a stream and small garden in front, is named Haewoojae, meaning “a place of sanctuary where one can solve one’s worries”.

Mr Sim’s birth in a public toilet was in line with traditional beliefs.

“It was intentional. My mother followed advice from my grandmother that people born in restrooms will enjoy long lives,” said the 74-year-old…

…Mr Sim, a member of parliament, will host the World Toilet Association’s inaugural meeting which he hopes will attract 300 representatives from 70 countries.

The seating for the entire event has been furnished by American Standard.