Over 20% of Brits don’t have a dentist, new figures show

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A new survey has revealed that more than 20% of Brits don’t currently have a dentist.

A poll by YouGov suggests that 22% of adults are not currently on a practice list. More than a third of those who don’t have a dentist say they cannot find a practice accepting new patients and 5% of people are on a waiting list. Over 22% said they can’t afford dental treatment.

The study showed that a deepening access crisis across England, Scotland and Wales is impacting patients, with 1 in 10 admitting they have tried DIY dentistry. Of the 10% who had attempted treatment at home, 56% had done so within the last 24 months, with 36% treating themselves in the last 12 months. Examples of DIY dentistry flagged by the poll include filling cavities with chemical metal and using superglue or cement to mend damaged crowns and dentures. There were also cases of people trying to treat a tooth infection with urine and using heated beads to replace a lost tooth.

Over a third of adults who have tried DIY dentistry have extracted a tooth at home and 32% have attempted to fill a tooth. Around 20% of people said they had tried their hand at dental treatment because they couldn’t get an NHS dental appointment and 18% said they couldn’t find a dental practice that was offering new patient places. Almost 15% didn’t go to the dentist due to anxiety or fear and 14% said they couldn’t afford to pay for the treatment needed.

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