YouTube Culture Spreading DIY Dentistry.

A piece in the American Student Dental Association’s September issue of ASDA News discusses do-it-yourself dentistry, a trend that is spreading through a number of YouTube videos highlighting the practice. For example, a video seen nearly 2.2 million times that is titled “Dentists Hate This Video!” shows a young woman using a do-it-yourself method for a cavity. Her video is “one of hundreds touting all kinds of homegrown cures for dental problems.” The article states lack of dental coverage and dental fear seem to motivate most of the “do-it-yourselfers.” Those two factors, “combined with internet access,” have resulted in “a do-it-yourself mentality of dental diagnosis and treatment that isn’t likely to end well.” In addition, “a growing number of people who take dental care into their own hands” are motivated by trust, the article states. “Building trust with patients is the most important thing you can do as a dentist,” says Dr. Kim Harms, ADA spokeswoman. “It’s your No. 1 clinical commodity. Unless patients can feel like they’re in control over their treatment plan, they won’t come to you.”