database_exists not working -- CI Newb here

I'm building an site that needs to build a database table on the fly the first time a user visits a certain page. I'm trying to detect if the table already exists before going through the hassle of building the table.

I am loading the

Code:

dbutil()

in the controller.

Then to do the test:

PHP Code:

if( !$this->dbutil->database_exists($answerDB) ){
  CREATION CODE HERE 
} 


with

Code:

$answerDB

being the table name that I'm testing for/trying to create.

The problem is that

Code:

$this->dbutil->database_exists(

) returns false every time, even if the table exists.

Should be straight forward but for some reason I'm missing something....

Any help is much appreciated.Thanks!