According to a survey by consumer magazine Which? more and more people in England are turning to DIY dentistry.  The online survey was conducted on 2,631 adults over 16 from January 19 to February 4 and it revealed that 8% of the people had tried DIY dentistry at home to try and fix their own problems and a similar number knew someone who had tried DIY dentistry.

The poll revealed that almost a quarter of those who had tried to self treat their teeth had attempted to remove a tooth using pliers while three out of ten people tried to whiten their teeth at home using household products. 12 % of people said they had tried to remove a tooth using a string tied to a door handle.

The reason there are so many budding dentists trying a DIY is the new dental contract that was introduced in 2006 which has limited access to dental care. The government however called the findings of the study unreliable and said access to NHS dentistry was improving.

The poll was a part of a more detailed research that is being conducted by Which? to try to examine dentistry in the UK. The magazine has asked the public to send in their experiences of dental treatment in an attempt to collate data which they plan to submit as a part of a Government review in April.

Ministers have called for their own independent review of NHS dentistry in the country which is scheduled to report back sometime later this year.  Shadow health minister Mike Penning said, "It is a scandal that millions of people are resorting to pulling out their own teeth as a result of Labour's disastrous mismanagement of NHS dentistry.

"These survey results are a direct consequence of the introduction of Labour's botched dental contract which has left millions without an NHS dentist. Labour have already admitted that there are serious problems but so far their only response has been to hold yet another review.

"For the sake of the millions of people who are now resorting to DIY dentistry, the Labour Government should stop dithering, rip up their failed contract, and take swift action to make sure that everyone who needs to see an NHS dentist can."

According to the poll some of the other DIY dentistry that had been attempted by people included 11 % using household glue to stick down a filling or a crown while 19 % tried to pop an ulcer with a pin. Mending or altering dentures was attempted by 8 % and 6 % tried to stick down a loose filling with chewing gum.

Barry Cockcroft, the chief dental officer for England said, “These findings come from an online multiple choice survey that has no statistical credibility. It is ludicrous to suggest that three million people are doing DIY dentistry.

"DIY dentistry is dangerous and unnecessary. Thanks to our investment of over £2bn in NHS dentistry, there are now lots of new NHS dental practices expanding and opening around the country."