Patients Resorting to Self-Treatment Amid NHS Dental Crisis
Patients in England are increasingly resorting to self-treatment, including pulling their own teeth, due to a lack of access to urgent dental care through the NHS. According to a report by Healthwatch England, individuals experiencing dental emergencies such as broken teeth, abscesses, or severe pain are often unable to secure timely appointments, despite NHS guidelines stating that such care should be available.
Many patients are finding themselves in distressing situations, forced to travel over 100 miles or pay substantial amounts for private treatment. Some have even turned to overseas options for dental care. The report highlights alarming instances of patients taking unprescribed antibiotics or engaging in painful self-treatment due to the inability to access professional help.
Challenges in Accessing Urgent Dental Care
The report reveals that patients facing sudden dental crises should ideally receive urgent appointments within 24 hours or, at most, within seven days, depending on the severity of their symptoms. This access can be through their regular NHS dentist or by calling NHS 111, which is meant to assist in arranging urgent appointments.
Despite these provisions, data from NHS 111 indicates a significant rise in calls related to dental issues. Between July and September 2025, call volumes surged by approximately 20% compared to the previous year. Local Healthwatch teams in the north-east conducted mystery shopping calls to urgent services and found that up to 15 calls could be made without finding any available urgent care.
Patients have reported exhausting attempts to secure appointments, often spending hours on hold or being referred to urgent care services only to discover that no appointments were available. The report underscores how urgent dental services are becoming the primary route for care, rather than a safety net for occasional crises.
Government Response and Recommendations
In response to the growing crisis, the government has pledged to provide an additional 700,000 urgent appointments annually through to 2028-29. However, Healthwatch England warns that without significant reform to improve access to routine care, many patients will continue to suffer.
The organization emphasizes that problems are not being addressed early enough, resulting in worsening dental health for many. Patients report experiencing extreme pain, sleepless nights, and deteriorating dental conditions. Many feel compelled to seek private treatment, often borrowing money or using pensions to cover costs, while some have described exhausting journeys of up to 110 miles to receive care.
Healthwatch England has made several recommendations, including a call for the NHS Business Services Authority to publish monthly progress updates on the urgent appointments target. Additionally, they advocate for the introduction of a legal right for individuals to register with an NHS dentist, which would enhance access, strengthen preventive care, and support long-term planning.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged the longstanding issues within the NHS dental system, stating, “This government inherited an NHS dental system decayed after years of neglect. We are working hard to turn things around, rolling out extra urgent dental appointments and reforming the dental contract to increase capacity and get more NHS dentists on the frontline.”
As the situation evolves, the focus remains on ensuring that patients can access the dental care they need, without resorting to dangerous self-treatment options.
