References

Gerritsen AE, Allen PF, Witter DJ Tooth loss and oral health-related quality of life: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2010; 8 https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7525-8-126
Galindo-Moreno P, Lopez-Chaichio L, Padial-Molina M The impact of tooth loss on cognitive function. Clin Oral Investig. 2022; 26:3493-3500 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-021-04318-4
Åstrøm AN, Mastrovito B, Sannevik J, Tsakos G. Role of behavioural and age-related factors in the long-term impact of tooth loss on oral health-related quality of life: a 25-year follow-up of Swedish older adults. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2022; https://doi.org/10.1111/cdoe.12788
Lopes RT, Neves ÉTB, da Costa Dutra L Impact of oral health literacy and psychoactive substances on tooth loss in adolescents. Oral Dis. 2022; https://doi.org/10.1111/odi.14249
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Wendell L. Homemade dentures. TIC. 1973; 32:13-14
Ring ME. Do-it-yourself dentistry!. Bull Hist Dent. 1993; 41:33-34
Bartold PM. Do-it-yourself dentistry. Aust Dent J. 2019; 64 https://doi.org/10.1111/adj.12696
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Authors

Marina Paparotto Lopes

Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, Brazil

Articles by Marina Paparotto Lopes

Jéssica Cristine Linarelli

Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, Brazil

Articles by Jéssica Cristine Linarelli

Débora Alves Nunes Leite Lima

Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, Brazil

Articles by Débora Alves Nunes Leite Lima

Renato Corrêa Viana Casarin

Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, Brazil

Articles by Renato Corrêa Viana Casarin

Márcio Ajudarte Lopes

Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, Brazil

Articles by Márcio Ajudarte Lopes

Article

The absence of teeth significantly impairs the ability to chew and digest food. It can also promote changes in the gingiva owing to the trauma caused by eating and brushing teeth. Loss of teeth can also cause bone loss, which can modify the bite and consequently lead to problems in the temporomandibular joint, such as clicking, headache and pain in other sites such as the neck, back and ears. In addition to functional alterations and development of pain, absence of teeth, particularly the anterior ones, can cause an important aesthetic problem. These situations can lead to social, psychological and emotional consequences that impact quality of life, self-image and self-esteem.1,2,3,4

Usually, absent teeth are replaced by total crowns, conventional removable partial or complete dentures, and implant-supported dentures, procedures that are performed by dentists. However, when access to professional dental care is not possible, particularly because of low income or low education level, some patients may eventually try to solve the situation by themselves. In the past, it was not unusual for some patients to perform their own dental procedures, such as tooth extraction, tooth and denture repair.5,6 This activity has been recognized as do-it-yourself (DIY) dental treatment.7 However, these days, homemade devices are very rare, with few reports in the English-language literature.8 Almost 20 years ago, our group published a case of a 63-year-old man who was a heavy smoker with uncontrolled diabetes and severe periodontitis. The patient had extracted his own superior and inferior incisors, and constructed bridges using PVC-type plastic strips that were fixed with superbond to the palatal and lingual surfaces of canines and carried the crown of his natural incisors.9

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