Damning new research reveals that people in the UK have been compelled to extract their own teeth at home because they cannot access or afford an NHS dentist.

The Health and Social Care Committee's investigation of NHS dentistry recommends "urgent and fundamental reform," citing evidence of pain and misery that is “totally unacceptable in the 21st century."

The paper quotes a YouGov survey of 2,104 persons taken in the United Kingdom in March 2023.

It was discovered that 10% of persons acknowledged attempting "DIY dentistry". More than half (56%) of those polled had done so in the previous year, with 20% doing so because they couldn't locate an NHS dentist.

According to the report, 22% of respondents are not enrolled with a dentist, with 23% claiming they cannot afford care.

Read more: Children's wait for medical care in the UK grows alarmingly: NHS

More than 30 Healthwatch organizations presented written testimony to the committee, with case studies given by Healthwatch Lincolnshire noting how people had yanked troublesome teeth out with pliers or had to travel five hours round trip to see an NHS dentist.

A roundtable discussion organized by the committee in June heard instances of patients pulling their own teeth at home, as well as people feeling lonely as their dental health deteriorated.

According to the research, there is "significant regional variation" in access to NHS dentistry. Persons from disadvantaged regions, ethnic minorities, the homeless, persons with special needs such as autism, and migrants were among those most affected.

The report indicates that freedom of information inquiries indicated that the primary dental care underspend for 2022/23 was expected to reach £400 million.

According to Steve Brine, chairman of the Health and Social Care Committee “Rarely has an inquiry been more necessary than this one.

“To hear of someone in such pain and distress that they resorted to using pliers to extract their teeth demonstrates the crisis in NHS dental services," he added.

“The problem is compounded by people being unaware of what they’re entitled to and a contract that is unfit for purpose when it comes to paying dentists for treating NHS patients.”

The committee is urging the government to guarantee that everyone in need of an NHS dentist can find one within a "reasonable distance" of their home and within a "reasonable time frame."

It also requests that a dental workforce study be conducted, as well as the launch of a patient education campaign to raise knowledge of how NHS dentistry operates.

Brine added that what is "particularly frustrating" is that previous recommendations dating 15 years ago still have yet to be implemented. He adds that reform alone is not enough to bring back dentists that have left the NHS or those considering leaving. 

“We endorse the Government’s ambition to ensure that everyone who needs an NHS dentist can access one. Belatedly, now is the time to deliver it.”

According to Shawn Charlwood, chairman of the British Dental Association’s General Dental Practice Committee, the report is “an instruction manual to save NHS dentistry," questioning whether the government is ready to use it. 

Louise Ansari, the chief executive at Healthwatch England welcomed the report and called on the Government to release its recovery plan immediately. 

“NHS dentistry is the second most common problem that the public report to Healthwatch, with more than 400 local reports from across England in the past three years exposing experiences of people suffering in pain, performing DIY dentistry, and struggling to pay the costs of treatment.”

According to an NHS spokesperson, “The GP Patient Survey found seven out of 10 patients had a good overall experience of dental services, the NHS has already started to address some of these recommendations through initial contract changes last year.

“These significant reforms will continue to further support dental teams to carry out even more treatments and address the inevitable backlogs that built up during the pandemic, while record numbers of dentists, dental therapists and hygienists will be trained as part of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan.