According to a recent story, a 70-year-old woman resorted to pulling out her own teeth due to being unable to access an NHS dentist.

Linda Colla, from Devon, couldn’t afford to go for private dental treatment, so “with great difficulty and lots of pain” she carried out her own dental extractions when her teeth became loose.

Ms. Colla said that she felt like she had no other choice, as she had been unable to find an NHS dentist since moving house six years ago. Up to this point, she could only eat soft food due to the pain her teeth were causing her.

“It’s not nice pulling your own teeth out. When they’re big molars and canine teeth which I pulled out, it’s no joke,” she said.

According to the findings of BBC research in 2022, nine out of 10 NHS dental practices were not accepting new adult patients.

Chairman of the British Dental Association, Eddie Crouch, said:

“In a civilized society no one should have to try their hand at DIY dentistry. These horrors are the direct result of decades of political choices.”

Regarding whichever government is in control following the July elections, Mr. Crouch stated that they have “a moral responsibility to provide the reform and funding NHS dentistry desperately needs. Failure to do so will spell the end of a service millions depend on.”

After her self-administered surgery, Ms. Colla said she that she still had to pay around £300 for work on her dental plate so that she was able to eat again.

My two-penneth

Another obscene story!

Nobody, regardless of age or location, should be forced into a situation where DIY dentistry is the only way to (attempt to) resolve an oral health issue. This lady is incredibly lucky that nothing went wrong, and also that she only needed £300 remedial work after it to rectify her dental plate.

I highly doubt that it makes the slightest bit of difference who is sitting in Downing Street, but the fact of the matter is that serious foundations need to be established in NHS dental care if there is any hope of basic facilities being accessible to all once again.