Dentists are volunteering their time to help the most vulnerable people in their local communities who find it difficult to access NHS dental care. The Real Junk Tooth Project has been launched by international dental charity Dentaid which is committed to eradicating dental pain across the world. At Dewsbury Dental Centre on Thursday a steady stream of patients had teeth extracted, ending months of misery for many of them.
Claire’s story
Dentaid wants to stops people resorting to desperate measures to end their dental pain like Claire Skipper (29) from Dewsbury who pulled out her own tooth with a pair of pliers in her garden shed.
“I’d been in absolute agony for weeks,” she said. “It was excruciating – worse than labour pains. I’d tried to get an NHS dentist but nowhere was taking on new patients so I couldn’t register. The only emergency clinic is in Bradford which costs a fortune to get to on public transport. My dad was also suffering toothache so we arranged to meet in my garden shed at 3 in the morning, drank whisky and pulled our teeth out with pliers. My dad managed to get his out but mine broke – the pain was indescribable. It took me another week before I could finally get to see an emergency dentist who removed what was left. After all that I’m still not able to register with a dentist and I dread something going wrong with my teeth again. I can’t afford more than £30 a month to go on a private care plan – sometimes we don’t have enough money for the electricity meter. That’s why I think this is such a great project. No-one in Britain in 2015 should have to resort to pulling out their own teeth and it’s fantastic that these dentists care enough to help.”
The Real Junk Tooth Project’s first patient was Matthew Phillips who had a wisdom tooth extracted. “I’ve been in pain for months but can’t get a dentist to see me,” he said. “I can’t sleep, it’s affecting my whole life. Without toothache my life will be much better.” Other patients included people who had been self-medicating to numb tooth pain, vulnerable people and those on low incomes.
Owner of Dewsbury Dental Centre, Nick O’ Donovan, was one of the volunteer dentists who provided emergency treatment on Thursday night.
“I’d like to think all dentists joined the profession because they wanted to help people,” he said. “This is one way we can give something back. The people we saw tonight would have been really suffering. Of course the best thing to do is have regular check-ups and good oral health but there are people who are falling through the net for all sorts of reasons. We know there is a need and this way we can help them.”
The scheme was launched after Paul Burr from community food initiative The Real Junk Food Project Dewsbury realised that many people in need could not enjoy the free meals the charity was providing because they were suffering toothache. He approached local dentists and Dentaid to set up the pilot project.
Dentaid has already been contacted by dental professionals across the country who are interested in establishing similar schemes in their areas. Andy Evans, strategic director of Dentaid added: “Dentaid is committed to eradicating dental pain whatever people’s circumstances might be. We know the NHS does a wonderful job but some people are still missing out and they are often those with the greatest dental needs. We’re very excited about the prospects for this project as it moves forward.”
The Real Junk Tooth Project will run every Thursday evening at Dewsbury Dental Centre on Halifax Road (excluding December 24 and 31) from 6pm – 8pm. No appointments are necessary, people just turn up and wait to be seen and only make a donation if they can afford to.
To support the scheme please visit https://mydonate.bt.com/events/dentaiddewsbury/256492
For more details about volunteering for the scheme email info@dentaid.org