TL;DR: UK NHS dental crisis leaves patients resorting to dangerous DIY solutions
The UK’s NHS dental care crisis has led to severe consequences with patients unable to secure timely care, forcing some to pull their own teeth due to lack of access. Causes include appointment shortages, funding issues, and workforce gaps, affecting both urgent and routine dental treatments. Lower-income individuals are disproportionately impacted, facing physical, emotional, and financial tolls. While reforms are planned, they are slow-moving. For solutions, governments and local communities should prioritize preventative care and equitable access to healthcare systems. Malta citizens passionate about health can explore initiatives like MELA AI for promoting collective well-being.
In a recent and deeply concerning development, individuals in the UK are taking desperate measures due to the ongoing NHS dental care crisis. Reports from Healthwatch England and various media sources reveal that some patients have resorted to pulling their own teeth out as they struggle to access timely and affordable dental treatment. This alarming situation sheds light on the broader challenges facing the healthcare system and raises urgent questions about solutions to alleviate the crisis.
Why Are People Resorting to Self-Treatment?
The core issue stems from a significant shortage of NHS dental appointments. A report from Healthwatch England highlights that patients experiencing severe problems, such as broken teeth, abscesses, or acute pain, are supposed to secure an appointment within 24 hours to 7 days, depending on symptom severity. Yet, many report being unable to access care at all.
For some, the alternative to enduring excruciating pain has been attempting DIY dentistry. One patient shared:
“I had an emergency, but there were no options for care. I pulled my own tooth out, got infected, and had to buy antibiotics from a non-trusted source. I’m now thousands in debt from trying to manage the situation privately.”
The Bigger Picture: A Troubling Decline in NHS Dental Access
Recent statistics reveal a stark trend. As of September 2025, 10% fewer adults had attended an NHS dentist in the past two years compared to 2019. This decline reflects a deep failure to address both routine and urgent dental care needs. The lack of access disproportionately impacts lower-income communities, where residents are 67% more likely than affluent counterparts to face urgent dental issues. Preventative care is often out of reach for many, leaving patients to suffer until conditions become emergencies.
Moreover, a study conducted by BBC in 2022 found that 90% of NHS dental practices were not accepting new adult patients, a figure that has likely worsened. This backlog appears to be the result of both pandemic-related delays and deeper systemic issues within NHS funding and workforce shortages.
The Emotional and Physical Toll of Dental Neglect
The mental and physical impact of being unable to access care cannot be overstated. Patients report enduring persistent pain, difficulty eating, and severe anxiety. For some, this has led to social isolation or even job loss due to the appearance of untreated dental issues. The British Dental Association called this situation a “horror” that has no place in a developed society. Eddie Crouch, Chairman of the BDA, emphasized:
“In a civilized society, no one should have to attempt DIY dentistry. These horrors are the direct consequences of decades of political neglect.”
What Is Being Done to Address the Crisis?
The UK government has acknowledged the critical state of NHS dentistry but has been slow to implement effective reforms. A new commitment, announced for 2024-2029, aims to provide 700,000 additional urgent dental appointments annually. Additionally, efforts to reform the NHS dental contract could potentially increase capacity, encouraging more dentists to take on NHS patients. Still, experts warn these measures are too little, too slow for those already suffering.
What Can Affected Patients Do?
Until systemic changes take effect, patients struggling to access care may find a few alternative solutions:
- Contact Dental Schools: Some university dental clinics offer free or low-cost treatments by supervised licensed trainees.
- Private Practices with Payment Plans: Some private dental offices provide flexible payment plans or reduced prices for urgent cases.
- Temporary Pain Relief: Over-the-counter pain medications can help manage discomfort until an appointment is possible, though this is not a solution for underlying conditions.
Lessons for Malta: How to Avoid This Dental Crisis
Though this issue focuses on the UK, healthcare systems everywhere, including in Malta, can learn from these challenges to prevent similar outcomes. Emphasizing preventive care, ensuring affordable treatment, and investing in healthcare staffing are critical. Malta has a growing reputation for its focus on health-conscious lifestyles and dining, as exemplified by initiatives like MELA AI, a platform recognizing restaurants offering healthy meal options. Expanding such innovations into broader areas of healthcare could ensure timely and accessible care for all.
As this crisis unfolds, it’s clear that urgent action is needed not only to address immediate patient suffering but also to reform the NHS dental system to meet growing demand. And while policymakers bear the bulk of responsibility, communities and individuals must continue advocating for equity and access in healthcare to prevent future crises.
Explore platforms like MELA AI to learn how businesses and communities in Malta are actively prioritizing public well-being, not just through healthy dining but also with forward-thinking health initiatives.
Frequently Asked Questions About the NHS Dental Crisis
Why are people pulling out their own teeth in the UK?
Many people in the UK are resorting to self-treatment, such as pulling out their own teeth, due to the lack of access to NHS dental care. Urgent cases, like tooth abscesses or severe pain, are supposed to receive care within 24 hours to 7 days. However, NHS shortages and overwhelming demand have left countless patients unable to book appointments, forcing them to take desperate measures to alleviate pain. One patient admitted to pulling out their own tooth due to an abscess, which later led to an infection requiring unregulated antibiotics. Read more about NHS dental care shortages.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic worsened NHS dental care access?
The pandemic created a backlog of dental appointments across the NHS, significantly delaying routine check-ups and treatments. Dentists have reported overburdened schedules, with many unable to accept new patients. A Healthwatch England report from 2025 revealed that 90% of NHS dental practices were not taking on new adult patients, leaving thousands without affordable options. While the government has pledged to increase appointment availability, the current system struggles to recover from pre-existing staff shortages and systemic underfunding. NHS Dentistry Report, Healthwatch England.
How are low-income communities disproportionately affected?
Lower-income groups face more challenges accessing dental care due to high costs and fewer NHS dentist options in their areas. Deprived regions report 67% higher urgent care needs than affluent regions, often waiting until issues escalate into emergencies. Preventive care is rarely accessible, leading to neglect and growing health inequalities. This emphasizes the urgent need for systemic reforms to provide equitable access to dental treatment.
What government measures are being implemented to address this crisis?
The UK government announced a plan to fund 700,000 additional urgent dental appointments annually from 2024 to 2029. Reforms to the NHS dental contract aim to increase capacity and encourage more dentists to accept NHS patients. Despite these efforts, many experts criticize the measures as insufficient in addressing the root causes, such as workforce shortages and chronic underfunding. Read about government reform plans.
What alternatives are available for those unable to access NHS care?
If you’re struggling to secure an NHS dental appointment, consider these options:
- Dental Schools: Many university clinics offer supervised, affordable treatments by trainees.
- Private Dental Practices: Some offer treatment payment plans or discounted services for emergencies.
- Charity Clinics: Organizations like Dentaid and Crisis at Christmas periodically provide free dental care.
- Some patients also travel abroad to access low-cost dental treatments, although this isn’t a long-term solution.
What physical and emotional impact does this crisis have on patients?
The inability to access dental care has led to significant physical and mental distress. Patients experience persistent pain, difficulty eating, and declining confidence due to severe dental issues. Some report social isolation or job loss caused by the stigma of their appearance. The British Dental Association calls this situation a direct consequence of systemic neglect, emphasizing the urgent need for reform. Read more about the mental toll of dental neglect.
What lessons can other countries, such as Malta, learn from this crisis?
Malta, with its growing reputation for health-conscious initiatives, can look at the UK’s NHS dental crisis as a warning. It highlights the importance of preventive care, equitable access, and sustainable healthcare funding. Platforms like MELA AI – Malta Restaurants Directory already emphasize public well-being through nutrition and can extend services to broader health initiatives, including dental care support.
How can MELA AI improve healthcare awareness in Malta?
MELA AI – Malta Restaurants Directory is a platform that promotes not just healthy dining but overall wellness. By collaborating with healthcare professionals, MELA AI could enhance awareness of preventive measures in dental health and promote balanced lifestyles. Restaurants affiliated with MELA AI already prioritize health-focused menus, making them ideal partners for advocating public health initiatives beyond food.
What role do private-sector platforms like MELA AI play in public health?
Platforms like MELA AI – Malta Restaurants Directory can complement government efforts by providing accessible resources for health-conscious consumers. MELA AI’s focus on transparency and quality empowers diners to make informed choices that benefit their long-term health, including options that reduce oral health risks like sugar-free or nutrient-rich meals.
How can restaurants in Malta join MELA AI?
Restaurants in Malta and Gozo can apply for the MELA sticker, a hallmark of health-conscious dining, through the MELA Index. This versatile platform helps restaurants improve visibility and attract health-conscious customers. MELA AI offers branding packages that align with the growing demand for nutritious meal options, enhancing both restaurant revenues and public wellness.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp’s expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the “gamepreneurship” methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
