YouGov poll suggests more than 10% of Brits have attempted DIY dental treatment
A YouGov poll has revealed that more than 10% of Brits have attempted DIY dental treatment.
The survey, which was conducted in March 2023, showed that over 10% of adults in the UK have tried to treat themselves at home. Among the people who had tried DIY dentistry, 20% were unable to get an NHS dental appointment and 22% weren’t registered with an NHS dentist. Almost 25% of people said they couldn’t afford to go to the dentist.
The survey was included in a recent review of NHS dental services, which was compiled by the Commons’ Health and Social Care Committee. Case studies and examples included patients who had extracted their own teeth at home using pliers and individuals who had travelled for five hours to get to a dental surgery because there were no appointments available locally.
The report highlighted regional differences and called for urgent improvements in the way patients access information and education about NHS dentistry. At present, it states, there is a lack of information and clarity, which means that patients don’t know what they are entitled to or how to find NHS dental services. The review also found that long-standing recommendations have not been recognised and the current financial rewards system can be a disincentive to NHS dentists.
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