Emergency help should be available, but some being forced to travel 100 miles or go private, says Healthwatch England
People needing emergency dental care in England are being denied help from the NHS despite guidance saying that it should be available, in some cases resorting to risky self-treatment such as pulling out their own teeth, the patient watchdog has found.
Patients who experience a sudden dental crisis such as a broken tooth, abscess or severe tooth pain are meant to be able to get help from their dentist or by calling NHS 111.
But research by Healthwatch England shows that people in pain are unable to get an appointment and in some cases are being forced to travel more than 100 miles, spend hundreds of pounds going private or even travel abroad to get care.
In some cases people are turning to self-treatment including pulling out teeth or taking unprescribed antibiotics.
