A pensioner pulled two of her own teeth out because she couldn’t get an dentist. Marina Chaplin, 68, finally took out a loan to go private after trying and failing to get in with NHS dentists for four years.
The retired college admin assistant said: “I tried as far away as Weston-super-Mare and Swindon but I couldn’t get in with an NHS dentist anywhere. “It’s disgusting. You used to be able to get an NHS dentist no problem now you can only get dental work done if you’re rich or you do what I have done and go into debt. I’ve worked all my life and now when I need the NHS it’s not there for me.”
Mother-of-six Marina had a long-standing NHS dentist which was bought out by a dental chain during the Covid-19 pandemic. Because she and her 85-year-old husband were unable to attend their regular check-ups due to pandemic restrictions they were removed from the NHS patient register in Bristol.
Marina said: “It’s ridiculous. It wasn’t our fault we couldn’t go. I had two teeth, which were coming loose and I was in pain so I kept wiggling them until I was able to pull them out.”
Marina suffers from osteoporosis and was told by her consultant she needed medication for this. However it came with the risk of a side effect that it could affect her gums so her GP would not prescribe it until she had seen a dentist.
She has had to take out a loan for £2,500 to have three teeth removed and a partial denture fitted before she can get her medication. However she has still faced a long wait for this to be carried out with the procedure now expected next month.
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She said: “My new dentist only works two days a week. Previously I used to get better care when I was with an NHS dentist. “It’s crazy but I don’t blame the NHS. I blame the politicians.”
