Les Jones

Brits Pulling Teeth at Home for Lack of State Dentists

Wednesday, October 17th, 2007 | Health Care |

AFP - English ‘pull own teeth’ as dental service decays:

LONDON (AFP) - Falling numbers of state dentists in England has led to some people taking extreme measures, including extracting their own teeth, according to a new study released Monday.

Falling numbers of state dentists in England has led to some people taking extreme measures, including extracting their own teeth, according to a new study released Monday. Others have used superglue to stick crowns back on, rather than stumping up for private treatment, said the study. One person spoke of carrying out 14 separate extractions on himself with pliers.

More typically, a lack of publicly-funded dentists means that growing numbers go private: 78 percent of private patients said they were there because they could not find a National Health Service (NHS) dentist, and only 15 percent because of better treatment.

Paying your medical professionals low wages’ll do that. I’d love to see the U.S. offer fast track immigration to foreign doctors seeking a better life.

Speaking of foreign countries with big government health care plans: Wait times for Canadians needing surgery hit an all time high of more than 18 weeks in 2007. I’ve heard anecdotal stories about Canadian doctors moving to the U.S., but I don’t have any data.

2 Comments to Brits Pulling Teeth at Home for Lack of State Dentists

phlegmfatale
October 17, 2007

It’s horrifying of delays in excessive of one and two months for things like oncology - such postponement of treatment can mean life or death. I suppose that’s what socialized medicine is hoping for - people to die before treatment is available. What moron honestly believes this is a good idea? Chilling.

Rabbit
October 17, 2007

I know several Canadian physicians and surgeons who have come to Texas over the last 15 years or so. I’ve worked closely with some of them. All expressed economic and bureaucratic reasons for migrating.

In fact, one of the better-known plastic surgeons in Dallas came from Canada about 8 years ago.

Regards,
Rabbit.

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