In a distressing turn of events, a pensioner has resorted to extracting two of her own teeth after struggling for four years to secure an appointment with an NHS dentist. Marina Chaplin, 68, ultimately took out a loan to seek private dental care due to her inability to find an available NHS practitioner.
Marina, a retired college administrative assistant, expressed her frustration, stating, “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 if 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.”
Marina, a mother of six, had been a patient at an NHS dental practice that was acquired by a dental chain during the Covid-19 pandemic. Due to pandemic restrictions, both she and her 85-year-old husband were unable to attend their regular check-ups, which led to their removal from the NHS patient register in Bristol.
“It’s ridiculous. It wasn’t our fault we couldn’t go,” Marina lamented. With two loose teeth causing her pain, she resorted to wiggling them until she could pull them out herself.
Suffering from osteoporosis, Marina was advised by her consultant that she needed medication. However, this treatment carried the risk of affecting her gums, which meant her GP wouldn’t prescribe it until she had seen a dentist.
Faced with these challenges, Marina took out a £2,500 loan to have three teeth removed and to receive a partial denture, a necessary step before she could start her medication. Unfortunately, she continues to face delays, with her dental procedure now expected to occur next month.
“My new dentist only works two days a week. Previously, I used to receive better care when I was with an NHS dentist,” she noted. “It’s crazy, but I don’t blame the NHS; I blame the politicians.”
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