A man was so scared of going to the dentist that most of his teeth have ‘broken away’.
The 31-year-old said he was forced to travel abroad for treatment because he claims NHS dentists don’t take his fears seriously.
Lajos Csendes, originally from Hungary but now living in Hackney, avoided the dentist for years due to his severe phobia, which led to severe tooth decay. He has suffered from weak teeth since he was a teenager and would often break them with his fingers or by biting into bread.
Lajos said he missed going to the dentist as a child and didn’t go for seven years between the ages of 11 and 18 because of his fear. Now, his front teeth and wisdom teeth are still intact.
Dentists believe that more frequent visits could have prevented his teeth from falling out, but genetics also play a role as his sister has the same problem. In 2024, a severe tooth infection entered his bloodstream and spread to his heart, forcing him to visit a specialist clinic in Hungary that treats people with dental phobias.
During the visit, he was told he would need to pay between £20,000 and £25,000 to repair his teeth and facial bones, which he believes will boost his confidence and allow him to smile again.
Lajos told PA Real Life: “I’m really frustrated with dentists… I’m not the only one who has a fear of dentists… When I say I have this fear, they think I’m joking.”
He added: “It gives me nightmares… I want people to realise that this really affects me and is a serious problem. I’ve always been ashamed of myself – for years I’ve stood in front of the mirror and tried to learn to smile in a way that I couldn’t see my teeth.
“Finding good relationships has always been difficult for me… I know people are judging… Some people are afraid to interact with me.” ”
Lajos has had a fear of dentists since he was a child, which led to him developing severe tooth decay and losing “80% of my teeth” since he was 15. He says his teeth were “literally falling out,” explaining: “So when I was little, I could basically break my teeth with my fingers or nails, even if I took a bite of bread or an apple.”
“Now I have wisdom teeth in the back and incisors in the front, but basically no teeth in the middle.”
As a result, he has been avoiding certain “crunchy or chewy” foods since his teenage years and has learned to hide his smile.
Over the years, dental check-ups became almost impossible – every time he tried to go for an appointment, he found himself unable to step foot into the building.
“I have a hard time with smells, noises and white buildings,” Lajos added. “It all makes me sick… I feel sick, I’m shaking, it’s just horrible for me.”
According to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), the level of anxiety an individual experiences around dental treatment can vary from person to person and depends on the treatment being carried out. The NHS also states that the term phobia is used specifically to describe an anxiety disorder that includes a pronounced and specific fear that is considered excessive or irrational, leading to situations being “avoided as much as possible”.
To “cope with the stress of his dental problems“, Lajos smoked three cigarettes a day for years, despite knowing it would worsen his condition. In 2023, he claimed an unnamed NHS dentist did not believe his fears, which made him more hesitant to seek help.
“They thought I was joking about my phobia,” he said. The dentist told Lajos that they thought more frequent visits might help prevent his teeth from falling out, but that genetics were also a factor.
He initially considered having surgery through the NHS, but found it too difficult to go to a traditional dentist for treatment. As a result, he chose to receive treatment in Hungary.
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