Desperate toothache sufferers resorted to pulling out their own teeth with PLIERS during lockdown after struggling to access dental care, watchdog warns

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Desperate Britons suffering with toothaches were forced to pull their own teeth out with pliers during lockdown after struggling to access dental care. 

A report by Healthwatch England has revealed the watchdog received an 'unprecedented' rise in calls and complaints about dentistry.

Its new report on dentistry sets out the serious consequences of people not being able to access care.

In one case a Derbyshire parent called the watchdog after their son, who has learning disabilities, pulled out their own teeth as they couldn't access a dentist. 

In Portsmouth, Chris Savage, 42, downed eight pints of Stella Artois before yanking two of his teeth out in his bedroom, as he couldn't register with a dentist. 

Authors of Healthwatch England's report wrote: 'People who struggled to access dental treatments during the pandemic often experienced inconvenience, anxiety, worsening problems requiring further treatment, or worse.

Chris Savage, 42, resorted to yanking two of his own teeth out in his bedroom because he couldn't register with a dentist or book an emergency appointment

'Some people were left in debilitating pain, while others feared that they would lose their teeth when they couldn't access care.'

The authors wrote: 'We have heard a few extreme cases when lack of access to dentistry pushed people to take steps which put their health and wellbeing at risk. 

'In another case, Healthwatch Portsmouth heard about a person who used pliers at home to remove their own teeth.'

Mr Savage, a labourer from Southsea in Portsmouth, Hampshire, said it was 'the most horrible thing I've ever done,' but added that it was 'worth the risk of infection'. 

Others resorted to similar measures, including Debroy Parrington, from Warrington, who pulled out his teeth after puncturing a lump in his gum after developing an infection. 

Others resorted to similar messages to Mr Savage, as Healthwatch England revealed it had received a spike in dentistry complaints during lockdown 

Billy Taylor, from Devon, was forced to pull out his own tooth after suffering 'excruciating' pain 

He told the Sun Online: 'I had a lump on the side of the tooth, on the gum, so I heated a hat pin up on the stove and I punctured it. Some gunge came out and it did ease the throbbing. Needs must. 

Billy Taylor, from Devon, also pulled out a tooth with a pair of pliers, after suffering 'excruciating' pain.

DIY dentist Paul Cutting from Canvey Island, Essex, pulled out his wife's molar after she downed a couple of rum and cokes to numb the pain.

He told The Sun: 'I was quite shocked it came out with one yank - it was like a brazil nut. Her face was swollen but it went down after a couple of hours.' 

Fay Edwards told ITV's This Morning how she unsuccessfully tried to remove a tooth earlier this year: 'It was desperate measures. I was crying and didn't know what to do. 

'I started with tweezers tying to loosen the tooth. I got my husband's pliers and tried to remove it myself. I just wanted it out.' 

Healthwatch England also set out how a child needed extractions 'due to delays in treatment'.

'In one case, a child who needed specialist treatment before lockdown ended up having extractions due to delays in treatment,' the report states.

Some people's dental problems were so bad they 'struggled' to eat and speak, the report adds.

Dentists have struggled to return to pre-Covid levels of care with new requirements for personal protective equipment, social distancing and requirements after performing so-called 'aerosol generating procedures'.

Other issues with dentistry delays meant a child who needed specialist treatment before lockdown ended up having extractions due to delays in treatment'

Fay Edwards told ITV's This Morning she tried pulling her tooth out after she was left crying and 'didn't know what to do,' about her tooth pain

Healthwatch England said that it saw a 452% increase in calls and complaints about dentistry over the summer.

It has called for more to be done to understand the long-term impact on people's dental health caused by the delays to care that have occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic.

And it has called on the Government and NHS to address the problem.

Sir Robert Francis QC, chairman of Healthwatch England, said: 'Even before the pandemic, people were telling us about problems in accessing NHS dental appointments but since the start of the summer these reports have hugely increased.

'If we don't improve access to NHS dental care, not only do people risk facing far greater dental problems in the future but it also puts pressure on overstretched hospitals and GPs.

'Untreated dental problems can lead to pain, infection and the risk of long-term harm, which is comparable with other medical conditions.

'Health and care services are working hard to deal with the pandemic, but we believe the Government and the NHS should give more attention to resolving both long-standing and Covid-related issues in dentistry.'

The British Dental Association (BDA) said that between March and the end of August, 14.5 million fewer NHS dental procedures took place in England.

Because of the new restrictions on dentists, seven in 10 practices are now operating at less than half their pre-pandemic capacity, the BDA said.

'For many people dentistry effectively ceased to exist at lockdown, as a system already in crisis was pushed ever closer to the brink,' said BDA chairman Eddie Crouch.

'The arrival of Covid vaccines will not solve the problems facing millions of our patients.

'Sadly 'business as usual' in dentistry means postcode lotteries, failed contracts, and underfunding.

'The Government says the mantra is 'build back better'. It must apply that logic to dental services.'