The lack of NHS dentists in Halton is so dire people have resorted to pulling out their own teeth - leaving themselves in agony.
Others have resorted to buying their own fillings on Amazon, or been forced to undertake 100-mile round trips to get treatment. One Halton resident said they were left with broken teeth after a car crash but were still unable to access dental care.
These are just one of the grim findings from a report on the state of NHS dentistry in Halton due to be presented to Halton's Health and Wellbeing Board this week. Compiled by advocacy group Healthwatch Halton, the report found just over a third of Halton adults (37.5%) had seen an NHS dentist in the past two years, which was lower than elsewhere in the country and lower than every other area in Cheshire and Merseyside with the exception of Liverpool.
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It also found that less than half of Halton children (42.2%) saw an NHS dentist last year, lower than every other area in Merseyside and Cheshire except Knowsley.
Healthwatch Halton said the situation was getting worse and the people contacting them were "increasingly desperate". According to the report, one patient who contacted Healthwatch Halton, said: "I resorted to pulling my own wisdom tooth out, it broke off and now causes pain up the side of my face every day."
Another patient said: "I tried to get an appointment as soon as dentists reopened after lockdown, to no avail. The dentist my husband, children and I have had since the '80s binned us.
"They said you've not been in two years, I explained we couldn't go or ring as all dentists were closed during lockdown.
"They said it doesn't matter. That's the rules if you ain't been in two years, your registration has lapsed.
"You'll need to re-register. I said OK can I register us? No, they said, we're full, not taking in new patients and there is no waiting list to put your name on!"
One disabled patient said they were making 100-mile round trips from Runcorn to their former home in Lancashire to see a dentist.
Another added: "Impossible to see anyone. Had to use Amazon to buy fillings."
Another patient added: "I last saw a dentist about 10 years ago and my teeth are now in urgent need of attention.
"I was also in a car crash last week and more of my teeth have now broke and cracked. I have tried to get into local dentists but none are taking on NHS patients, I have also tried the emergency dental number and they never have any appointments.
"I am in agony with my teeth and also get abscesses."
The situation with NHS dentistry nationally has become increasingly challenging in recent years, with 2,000 NHS dentists leaving the profession in 2021, Covid backlogs have also piled pressure on remaining NHS dentists.
But Healthwatch Halton said there are also "major problems" with the NHS dental contract, which it said does not work well for patients or dentists.
It said there needed to be a "national discussion" between patients, dental leaders, the NHS and politicians about how the NHS is going to meet the country's dental health needs, including a "radical reform" of the way dentistry is commissioned and provided.
It also called for measures to be taken specifically in Halton, including targeted action to improve access to dental care in the borough to at least the national average, and action to encourage recruitment and retention of NHS dentists locally.
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