The BBC's Jeremy Vine show has a piece coming up today on some kind of
DIY dentistry. I was fairly amazed at the idea though I haven't heard
the details yet.

Apparently it is possible to buy hygenists tools for home use. For
example, a web search brought up

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008URJGTG

These are dental scalers. Even being able to buy things like these is a
surprise. My hygenist once refused to do a certain piece of cleaning
work which was about removing clear cement from the surface of a tooth,
preferring to refer that part of the job to the dentist so that he would
take responsibility for distinguishing cement from tooth material. So
the idea of buying tools to 'scrape' your own teeth is surprising, to
say the least.

Anyone tried dental DIY? Anyone brave enough to consider it? Or is it
easier and safer, if approached responsibly, than one might imagine?

Not the usual DIY topic, eh!

James

On Mon, 20 Apr 2015 11:58:32 +0100
"James Harris" wrote:

The BBC's Jeremy Vine show has a piece coming up today on some kind
of DIY dentistry. I was fairly amazed at the idea though I haven't
heard the details yet.

Apparently it is possible to buy hygenists tools for home use. For
example, a web search brought up

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008URJGTG

These are dental scalers. Even being able to buy things like these is
a surprise. My hygenist once refused to do a certain piece of
cleaning work which was about removing clear cement from the surface
of a tooth, preferring to refer that part of the job to the dentist
so that he would take responsibility for distinguishing cement from
tooth material. So the idea of buying tools to 'scrape' your own
teeth is surprising, to say the least.

Anyone tried dental DIY? Anyone brave enough to consider it? Or is it
easier and safer, if approached responsibly, than one might imagine?

Not the usual DIY topic, eh!

James



Angle grinder?

--
Davey.

On 4/20/2015 6:59 AM, Davey wrote:
On Mon, 20 Apr 2015 11:58:32 +0100
"James Harris" wrote:

Anyone tried dental DIY? Anyone brave enough to consider it? Or is it
easier and safer, if approached responsibly, than one might imagine?

Angle grinder?

Dremel.

On Mon, 20 Apr 2015 11:58:32 +0100, James Harris wrote:

The BBC's Jeremy Vine show has a piece coming up today on some kind of
DIY dentistry. I was fairly amazed at the idea though I haven't heard
the details yet.

Apparently it is possible to buy hygenists tools for home use. For
example, a web search brought up

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008URJGTG

These are dental scalers. Even being able to buy things like these is a
surprise. My hygenist once refused to do a certain piece of cleaning
work which was about removing clear cement from the surface of a tooth,
preferring to refer that part of the job to the dentist so that he would
take responsibility for distinguishing cement from tooth material. So
the idea of buying tools to 'scrape' your own teeth is surprising, to
say the least.

Anyone tried dental DIY? Anyone brave enough to consider it? Or is it
easier and safer, if approached responsibly, than one might imagine?

Not the usual DIY topic, eh!

James

Thanks.

I am tempted because I suffer from plaque build up on my lower front
teeth, and the hygienist is not included in the NHS treatment plan.

IIRC I used to get a hygienist appointment included in my NHS treatment
back in the day.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/CANDURE%C2%A...er-Scraper/dp/
B00G4N4LI4/

may be a better option, though.

Cheers

Dave R


--
Windows 8.1 on PCSpecialist box

On Mon, 20 Apr 2015 07:14:15 -0400
S Viemeister wrote:

On 4/20/2015 6:59 AM, Davey wrote:
On Mon, 20 Apr 2015 11:58:32 +0100
"James Harris" wrote:

Anyone tried dental DIY? Anyone brave enough to consider it? Or is
it easier and safer, if approached responsibly, than one might
imagine?

Angle grinder?

Dremel.


Good point. I wondered where all the promised uses for the thing were.
Now here's one!

--
Davey.

On Mon, 20 Apr 2015 11:58:32 +0100, "James Harris"
wrote:

The BBC's Jeremy Vine show has a piece coming up today on some kind of
DIY dentistry. I was fairly amazed at the idea though I haven't heard
the details yet.

Apparently it is possible to buy hygenists tools for home use. For
example, a web search brought up

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008URJGTG

These are dental scalers. Even being able to buy things like these is a
surprise. My hygenist once refused to do a certain piece of cleaning
work which was about removing clear cement from the surface of a tooth,
preferring to refer that part of the job to the dentist so that he would
take responsibility for distinguishing cement from tooth material. So
the idea of buying tools to 'scrape' your own teeth is surprising, to
say the least.

Anyone tried dental DIY? Anyone brave enough to consider it? Or is it
easier and safer, if approached responsibly, than one might imagine?

Not the usual DIY topic, eh!

James

I've glued my wife's front tooth cap back on using superglue. Hardest
part was keeping her tongue still and away from the tooth for a few
minutes until the glue had dried

It was over a holiday period and couldn't get to a dentist. She later
saw her dentist and he said it looked fine, just leave well alone
unless/untill it falls off again.

On Mon, 20 Apr 2015 11:58:32 +0100, "James Harris"
wrote:

Anyone tried dental DIY? Anyone brave enough to consider it? Or is it
easier and safer, if approached responsibly, than one might imagine?

There was a chap on TV who disapproved of dentists on much the same grounds as
diy-ers disapprove of professionals, i.e. he figured he could do a better job
cheaper, and with less trouble, bunch of robbers, easy if you know how, etc.
etc.

He'd get stuff at a dentists supply, and dremeled down teeth to stumps, using a
diamond burr, added a cap of cement, and then dremelled that to tooth shape.
(Car body filler an angle grinder, pretty much). Most/all of these teeth were
removable, and stuck in place with spit or denture adhesive cream. Oh, and he'd
do little here, a little there, like fettling a model train or something.

A dentist looked at the work, pronounced it a bodge of the higest order, and
expressed amazement that the chap could eat, smile, and generally not be
completely miserable, and extra amazement at doing all this without local
anaesthetic.

I could probably google up the TV show, but it was bad enough watching the first
time, seeing the fellow spit all his teeth out like a cartoon character...


Thomas Prufer

In message , James Harris
writes
The BBC's Jeremy Vine show has a piece coming up today on some kind of
DIY dentistry. I was fairly amazed at the idea though I haven't heard
the details yet.

Apparently it is possible to buy hygenists tools for home use. For
example, a web search brought up

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008URJGTG

These are dental scalers. Even being able to buy things like these is a
surprise.

No reason why you shouldn't be able to buy them. I imagine you can buy
most surgical tools if you really want to.


Anyone tried dental DIY? Anyone brave enough to consider it? Or is it
easier and safer, if approached responsibly, than one might imagine?

Not the usual DIY topic, eh!


Can't say I've been tempted, though you have been able to buy kits for
temporary tooth repair for years (for use when travelling).

My wife's great uncle made himself some false teeth once. I think he has
since moved on to proper ones :-)
--
Chris French

On Monday, 20 April 2015 11:58:32 UTC+1, James Harris wrote:

The BBC's Jeremy Vine show has a piece coming up today on some kind of
DIY dentistry. I was fairly amazed at the idea though I haven't heard
the details yet.

Apparently it is possible to buy hygenists tools for home use. For
example, a web search brought up

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008URJGTG

These are dental scalers. Even being able to buy things like these is a
surprise. My hygenist once refused to do a certain piece of cleaning
work which was about removing clear cement from the surface of a tooth,
preferring to refer that part of the job to the dentist so that he would
take responsibility for distinguishing cement from tooth material. So
the idea of buying tools to 'scrape' your own teeth is surprising, to
say the least.

Anyone tried dental DIY? Anyone brave enough to consider it? Or is it
easier and safer, if approached responsibly, than one might imagine?

Not the usual DIY topic, eh!

James

DIY cleaning is straightforward enough. Your link & David's aren't equipment I'd buy though, the 99p stores kit has what's needed. One pointed scraper's fine IME, which it contains, plus an abrasive rubber tool that's useful too. I mostly use a magnifying makeup mirror 5" or so across, the little 1" things are of more limited use, only really for the least visible bits. You need good light to see clearly. And finally a single tuft brush can do much more vigorous scrubbing than a toothbrush, which is often effective to get plaque off.

But... if you've got plaque building up, look at your brushing technique. Ideally brushing should get teeth clean - it never fully does of course, but there's always room for improvement.

And don't forget disclosing tablets, most helpful.


NT

On Monday, 20 April 2015 12:37:35 UTC+1, Thomas Prufer wrote:
On Mon, 20 Apr 2015 11:58:32 +0100, "James Harris"
wrote:

Anyone tried dental DIY? Anyone brave enough to consider it? Or is it
easier and safer, if approached responsibly, than one might imagine?

There was a chap on TV who disapproved of dentists on much the same grounds as
diy-ers disapprove of professionals, i.e. he figured he could do a better job
cheaper, and with less trouble, bunch of robbers, easy if you know how, etc.
etc.

He'd get stuff at a dentists supply, and dremeled down teeth to stumps, using a
diamond burr, added a cap of cement, and then dremelled that to tooth shape.
(Car body filler an angle grinder, pretty much). Most/all of these teeth were
removable, and stuck in place with spit or denture adhesive cream. Oh, and he'd
do little here, a little there, like fettling a model train or something.

A dentist looked at the work, pronounced it a bodge of the higest order, and
expressed amazement that the chap could eat, smile, and generally not be
completely miserable, and extra amazement at doing all this without local
anaesthetic.

Since he could eat, smile etc, it appears the dentist was wrong.

Filling without anaesthesia isn't too terrible. Mindset has a lot to do with how we handle pain, and diy pain is easier to deal with than being passively hurt, especially so once you're determined to get it done. (No, I'm not abnormally experienced heh.)


I could probably google up the TV show, but it was bad enough watching the first
time, seeing the fellow spit all his teeth out like a cartoon character...


Thomas Prufer

I'd be interesed to see it


NT

No but my dentist told me that if your enamel was normal none of her tools
should damage it, and cement is softer than enamel so was relatively easy to
remove just like scale is.

The problem is that although you could feel yourself. you cannot see in your
own mouth to see if you have missed anything.
Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"James Harris" wrote in message
...
The BBC's Jeremy Vine show has a piece coming up today on some kind of DIY
dentistry. I was fairly amazed at the idea though I haven't heard the
details yet.

Apparently it is possible to buy hygenists tools for home use. For
example, a web search brought up

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008URJGTG

These are dental scalers. Even being able to buy things like these is a
surprise. My hygenist once refused to do a certain piece of cleaning work
which was about removing clear cement from the surface of a tooth,
preferring to refer that part of the job to the dentist so that he would
take responsibility for distinguishing cement from tooth material. So the
idea of buying tools to 'scrape' your own teeth is surprising, to say the
least.

Anyone tried dental DIY? Anyone brave enough to consider it? Or is it
easier and safer, if approached responsibly, than one might imagine?

Not the usual DIY topic, eh!

James

Actually, they doo have a little sweeps brush thing they use that rotates a
bit like an angle grinnder with bristles.
Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"Davey" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 20 Apr 2015 11:58:32 +0100
"James Harris" wrote:

The BBC's Jeremy Vine show has a piece coming up today on some kind
of DIY dentistry. I was fairly amazed at the idea though I haven't
heard the details yet.

Apparently it is possible to buy hygenists tools for home use. For
example, a web search brought up

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008URJGTG

These are dental scalers. Even being able to buy things like these is
a surprise. My hygenist once refused to do a certain piece of
cleaning work which was about removing clear cement from the surface
of a tooth, preferring to refer that part of the job to the dentist
so that he would take responsibility for distinguishing cement from
tooth material. So the idea of buying tools to 'scrape' your own
teeth is surprising, to say the least.

Anyone tried dental DIY? Anyone brave enough to consider it? Or is it
easier and safer, if approached responsibly, than one might imagine?

Not the usual DIY topic, eh!

James



Angle grinder?

--
Davey.

On Monday, April 20, 2015 at 11:58:32 AM UTC+1, James Harris wrote:
The BBC's Jeremy Vine show has a piece coming up today on some kind of
DIY dentistry. I was fairly amazed at the idea though I haven't heard
the details yet.

Apparently it is possible to buy hygenists tools for home use. For
example, a web search brought up

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008URJGTG

These are dental scalers. Even being able to buy things like these is a
surprise. My hygenist once refused to do a certain piece of cleaning
work which was about removing clear cement from the surface of a tooth,
preferring to refer that part of the job to the dentist so that he would
take responsibility for distinguishing cement from tooth material. So
the idea of buying tools to 'scrape' your own teeth is surprising, to
say the least.

Anyone tried dental DIY? Anyone brave enough to consider it? Or is it
easier and safer, if approached responsibly, than one might imagine?

Not the usual DIY topic, eh!

James

According to a Guardian article a couple of weeks ago, people are doing more than just simple cleaning:

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2...avoid-nhs-bill

On Monday, 20 April 2015 13:01:34 UTC+1, Brian Gaff wrote:
No but my dentist told me that if your enamel was normal none of her tools
should damage it, and cement is softer than enamel so was relatively easy to
remove just like scale is.

The problem is that although you could feel yourself. you cannot see in your
own mouth to see if you have missed anything.

you've never heard of a selfi picture/movie, can't be that difficult. I guess there's also no way of cutting your own hair, because no one case se the back of their head. ;-) and just because it DIY it doen;t have to be literlly DIY another could help quite easily.

On Monday, 20 April 2015 13:42:59 UTC+1, Jethro_uk wrote:
On Mon, 20 Apr 2015 12:43:03 +0100, Chris French wrote:

In message , James Harris
writes
[quoted text muted]

No reason why you shouldn't be able to buy them. I imagine you can buy
most surgical tools if you really want to.

You need a strong stomach for some of them - particularly ones which have
been designed for a single *very* specific use

http://web2.iadfw.net/uthman/autopsy_tools.html

Mind you I was in a country store once and felt very queasy find a pair
of shears specifically designed for castrating sheep ...

When I wqas a kid visiting castlers and teh like I was fascinated by the torture instruments mostly the eye gougers.

In article ,
David writes:
I am tempted because I suffer from plaque build up on my lower front
teeth, and the hygienist is not included in the NHS treatment plan.

IIRC I used to get a hygienist appointment included in my NHS treatment
back in the day.

Dentist used to send me to the hygienist for same reason every 1-2 years.
One hygienist showed me how to floss front teeth properly, and dentist
has not needed to send me to the hygienist for some 25 years now.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

Davidm wrote:
I've glued my wife's front tooth cap back on using superglue. Hardest
part was keeping her tongue still and away from the tooth for a few
minutes until the glue had dried

It was over a holiday period and couldn't get to a dentist. She later
saw her dentist and he said it looked fine, just leave well alone
unless/untill it falls off again.

I'm no expert but I understand that the cement dentists use is designed
for easy removal when required. Superglue isn't. I wonder if the dentist
was diplomatically telling your wife that removing the crown without
causing damage would be difficult. Let's hope removal is never required.

--
Mike Barnes
Cheshire, England

On 20/04/2015 11:58, James Harris wrote:
The BBC's Jeremy Vine show has a piece coming up today on some kind of
DIY dentistry. I was fairly amazed at the idea though I haven't heard
the details yet.

Apparently it is possible to buy hygenists tools for home use. For
example, a web search brought up

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008URJGTG

Looking at the supplier's prices for those and other items, I suspect
they are importers. The most probable place of origin being Pakistan, as
they have long been producers of medical and dental instruments. When I
was in the trade, Pakistan made instruments, other than those made by
outsourced German factories, were a by-word for poor quality steel and
bad workmanship. I know the supplier says that the instruments are CE
marked, but, I have spoken to some of the manufacturers at trade
exhibitions and would not be confident that it meant any more than that
the purchaser had asked for instruments with the CE Mark.

Having said that, there is not a lot to go wrong with dental probes.
They might bend if made from the wrong sort of steel, but they are not
likely to kill you.

These are dental scalers. Even being able to buy things like these is a
surprise. My hygenist once refused to do a certain piece of cleaning
work which was about removing clear cement from the surface of a tooth,
preferring to refer that part of the job to the dentist so that he would
take responsibility for distinguishing cement from tooth material. So
the idea of buying tools to 'scrape' your own teeth is surprising, to
say the least.

Anyone tried dental DIY?

Not me and I used to make the tools.


--
Colin Bignell

On 20/04/2015 12:43, Chris French wrote:
In message , James Harris
writes
The BBC's Jeremy Vine show has a piece coming up today on some kind of
DIY dentistry. I was fairly amazed at the idea though I haven't heard
the details yet.

Apparently it is possible to buy hygenists tools for home use. For
example, a web search brought up

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008URJGTG

These are dental scalers. Even being able to buy things like these is a
surprise.

No reason why you shouldn't be able to buy them. I imagine you can buy
most surgical tools if you really want to...

I was slightly surprised to discover that you can't just go out and buy
medical oxygen any more.


--
Colin Bignell

"David" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 20 Apr 2015 11:58:32 +0100, James Harris wrote:

....

Apparently it is possible to buy hygenists tools for home use. For
example, a web search brought up

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008URJGTG

....

I am tempted because I suffer from plaque build up on my lower front
teeth, and the hygienist is not included in the NHS treatment plan.

....

http://www.amazon.co.uk/CANDURE%C2%A...er-Scraper/dp/
B00G4N4LI4/

may be a better option, though.

Well, I have ordered the set you suggested. At £6.95 it seemed worth
trying. However, I'll decide on whether to use them or not only when I
see them!

BTW, your URL wrapped and broke. Like many companies the URLs that
Amazon use have the extra text only to enhance their ranking in search
engines. The above URL can be shortened to remove the unnecessary text

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00G4N4LI4

James

On 20/04/2015 13:41, Jethro_uk wrote:
On Mon, 20 Apr 2015 12:43:03 +0100, Chris French wrote:

In message , James Harris
writes
[quoted text muted]

No reason why you shouldn't be able to buy them. I imagine you can buy
most surgical tools if you really want to.

You need a strong stomach for some of them - particularly ones which have
been designed for a single *very* specific use

http://web2.iadfw.net/uthman/autopsy_tools.html..

I have some very nice old surgical instrument catalogues, showing worse
than that. Indeed, thinking about some of the stuff for entering the
skull, I have probably made worse.


--
Colin Bignell

On Monday, 20 April 2015 12:22:09 UTC+1, David wrote:
I am tempted because I suffer from plaque build up on my lower front
teeth, and the hygienist is not included in the NHS treatment plan.

If a scale and polish is *dentally necessary* then the dentist is obliged to carry it out under NHS provision.

They don't like doing it because renting the surgery to a hygienist for the afternoon is a nice little earner while they're on the golf course.

Owain

In article , David
writes

I am tempted because I suffer from plaque build up on my lower front
teeth, and the hygienist is not included in the NHS treatment plan.

No but you should receive a basic scale & polish as part of your checkup
although you may have to ask for it and refuse the (private) hygienist's
visit.

Some interesting comments he

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/....php?t=3527713

--
fred
it's a ba-na-na . . . .

"James Harris" wrote:
The BBC's Jeremy Vine show has a piece coming up today on some kind of
DIY dentistry. I was fairly amazed at the idea though I haven't heard
the details yet.

Apparently it is possible to buy hygenists tools for home use. For
example, a web search brought up

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008URJGTG

These are dental scalers. Even being able to buy things like these is a
surprise. My hygenist once refused to do a certain piece of cleaning
work which was about removing clear cement from the surface of a tooth,
preferring to refer that part of the job to the dentist so that he would
take responsibility for distinguishing cement from tooth material. So
the idea of buying tools to 'scrape' your own teeth is surprising, to
say the least.

Anyone tried dental DIY? Anyone brave enough to consider it? Or is it
easier and safer, if approached responsibly, than one might imagine?

Not the usual DIY topic, eh!

James

I've been using tools like those for a couple of years. Dental enamel is
*very* tough and you'd have to have very rotten teeth to risk doing any
damage I reckon.

They are a billion times better than fannying around with bits of floss or
interdental brushes IMO and my own dentist has only had to do a bit of
"top-up" de-scaling once out of my last four visits since I started using
them.

Tim

On Monday, 20 April 2015 18:35:22 UTC+1, wrote:
On Monday, 20 April 2015 12:22:09 UTC+1, David wrote:
I am tempted because I suffer from plaque build up on my lower front
teeth, and the hygienist is not included in the NHS treatment plan.

If a scale and polish is *dentally necessary* then the dentist is obliged to carry it out under NHS provision.

but never does

NT

They don't like doing it because renting the surgery to a hygienist for the afternoon is a nice little earner while they're on the golf course.

Owain

On 20/04/2015 14:06, Chris Hogg wrote:


In WW2, my late father was the medical officer on a naval aircraft
transport vessel (HMS Athena), and somewhere in the middle of the
Indian ocean he developed an abscess under a tooth, with accompanying
extreme tooth-ache. He was the only person on board remotely qualified
to deal with it, and although he asked if anyone else would extract it
for him, he got no volunteers. Eventually he had to extract it
himself, apparently with the aid of several shots of whisky, there
being no local anesthetics in those days.


The story WW2 story I was told was about a Captain who did not want to
hand over command of his ship whilst he was being anaesthetized, so he
told the dentist to take the tooth out whilst he was conscious.


--
Michael Chare

"Michael Chare" wrote in message
o.uk...
On 20/04/2015 14:06, Chris Hogg wrote:


In WW2, my late father was the medical officer on a naval aircraft
transport vessel (HMS Athena), and somewhere in the middle of the
Indian ocean he developed an abscess under a tooth, with accompanying
extreme tooth-ache. He was the only person on board remotely qualified
to deal with it, and although he asked if anyone else would extract it
for him, he got no volunteers. Eventually he had to extract it
himself, apparently with the aid of several shots of whisky, there
being no local anesthetics in those days.


The story WW2 story I was told was about a Captain who did not want to
hand over command of his ship whilst he was being anaesthetized, so he
told the dentist to take the tooth out whilst he was conscious.

I've just had a couple extracted without being anaesthetized, just a local.

On 20/04/2015 15:18, Andrew Gabriel wrote:
In article ,
David writes:
I am tempted because I suffer from plaque build up on my lower front
teeth, and the hygienist is not included in the NHS treatment plan.

IIRC I used to get a hygienist appointment included in my NHS treatment
back in the day.

Dentist used to send me to the hygienist for same reason every 1-2 years.
One hygienist showed me how to floss front teeth properly, and dentist
has not needed to send me to the hygienist for some 25 years now.


I wish I could say the same. I regularly use floss and the little TePe
brushes. The TePe brushes keep the plaque from the bottom of my front
teeth, but the floss does not stop plaque building up higher up between
my teeth, and once it is there it is very difficult to remove.

I am tempted by these tools although when I broached the idea of getting
some 20 years ago with my then dentist he advised against it.


--
Michael Chare

On Mon, 20 Apr 2015 15:59:39 +0100, Nightjar "cpb"@ insert my surname
here.me.uk wrote:

I have some very nice old surgical instrument catalogues, showing worse
than that. Indeed, thinking about some of the stuff for entering the
skull, I have probably made worse.


Chainsaw!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Osteotome3.jpg


Thomas Prufer

On 20 Apr 2015, "James Harris" grunted:

Apparently it is possible to buy hygenists tools for home use. For
example, a web search brought up

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008URJGTG

These are dental scalers. Even being able to buy things like these is a
surprise. My hygenist once refused to do a certain piece of cleaning
work which was about removing clear cement from the surface of a tooth,
preferring to refer that part of the job to the dentist so that he would
take responsibility for distinguishing cement from tooth material. So
the idea of buying tools to 'scrape' your own teeth is surprising, to
say the least.

I don't think availability of an item on Amazon constitutes an invitatin to
DIY... how about trying a set of bone chisels?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00NHW2VEQ
Or an abdominal retractor?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00IMJ1T5Q


--
David

On 21/04/2015 07:23, Thomas Prufer wrote:
On Mon, 20 Apr 2015 15:59:39 +0100, Nightjar "cpb"@ insert my surname
here.me.uk wrote:

I have some very nice old surgical instrument catalogues, showing worse
than that. Indeed, thinking about some of the stuff for entering the
skull, I have probably made worse.


Chainsaw!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Osteotome3.jpg

That is a bit old, even for some of my catalogues, but I like it. Making
the teeth must have been interesting.

These days they use oscillating saws, which will cut bone but not soft
tissue.

--
Colin Bignell

On Tue, 21 Apr 2015 09:43:53 +0100, Nightjar "cpb"@ insert my surname
here.me.uk wrote:

That is a bit old, even for some of my catalogues, but I like it. Making
the teeth must have been interesting.

And the ivory (or bone) handles...

These days they use oscillating saws, which will cut bone but not soft tissue.

So not "angle grinder" but "Fein Multmaster"?

(Which was originally developed as a saw cut off plaster casts, says so on their
"History" page.)


Thomas Prufer

On 22/04/2015 09:29, Thomas Prufer wrote:
On Tue, 21 Apr 2015 09:43:53 +0100, Nightjar "cpb"@ insert my surname
here.me.uk wrote:

That is a bit old, even for some of my catalogues, but I like it. Making
the teeth must have been interesting.

And the ivory (or bone) handles...

The instrument maker wouldn't have made those but would buy them in from
a handle maker. Those were usually based in places like Sheffield, where
cutlery was made.

These days they use oscillating saws, which will cut bone but not soft tissue.

So not "angle grinder" but "Fein Multmaster"?

(Which was originally developed as a saw cut off plaster casts, says so on their
"History" page.)

I remember having a plaster cast cut off with one of those when I was a
teenager. The doctor demonstrated that it wouldn't cut skin by pressing
the blade into the base of his thumb.

--
Colin Bignell

On Mon, 20 Apr 2015 07:14:15 -0400, S Viemeister
wrote:

On 4/20/2015 6:59 AM, Davey wrote:
On Mon, 20 Apr 2015 11:58:32 +0100
"James Harris" wrote:

Anyone tried dental DIY? Anyone brave enough to consider it? Or is it
easier and safer, if approached responsibly, than one might imagine?

Angle grinder?

Dremel.


Wimps - what's wrong with a pneumatic drill?

--
AnthonyL

On Wed, 22 Apr 2015 11:27:18 GMT
lid (AnthonyL) wrote:

On Mon, 20 Apr 2015 07:14:15 -0400, S Viemeister
wrote:

On 4/20/2015 6:59 AM, Davey wrote:
On Mon, 20 Apr 2015 11:58:32 +0100
"James Harris" wrote:

Anyone tried dental DIY? Anyone brave enough to consider it? Or
is it easier and safer, if approached responsibly, than one might
imagine?

Angle grinder?

Dremel.


Wimps - what's wrong with a pneumatic drill?


Ask the Hatton Garden guys about their cement treatment!

--
Davey.

On Monday, April 20, 2015 at 12:34:35 PM UTC+1, Davidm wrote:
On Mon, 20 Apr 2015 11:58:32 +0100, "James Harris"
wrote:

The BBC's Jeremy Vine show has a piece coming up today on some kind of
DIY dentistry. I was fairly amazed at the idea though I haven't heard
the details yet.

Apparently it is possible to buy hygenists tools for home use. For
example, a web search brought up

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008URJGTG

These are dental scalers. Even being able to buy things like these is a
surprise. My hygenist once refused to do a certain piece of cleaning
work which was about removing clear cement from the surface of a tooth,
preferring to refer that part of the job to the dentist so that he would
take responsibility for distinguishing cement from tooth material. So
the idea of buying tools to 'scrape' your own teeth is surprising, to
say the least.

Anyone tried dental DIY? Anyone brave enough to consider it? Or is it
easier and safer, if approached responsibly, than one might imagine?

Not the usual DIY topic, eh!

James

I've glued my wife's front tooth cap back on using superglue. Hardest
part was keeping her tongue still and away from the tooth for a few
minutes until the glue had dried

It was over a holiday period and couldn't get to a dentist. She later
saw her dentist and he said it looked fine, just leave well alone
unless/untill it falls off again.

Hi James,

I am researching a piece on DIY dentistry - do you have time to talk tomorrow? Look forward to hearing from you, very best, Kate