Stowbridge man John Evans shares image of teeth problems to highlight Norfolk dental issues

A 73-year-old left with broken teeth and an inability to eat certain foods has blamed Norfolk’s failing dental industry.

John Evans, who lives in Stowbridge, first approached a nearby dentist in 2018 when he lost a filling. However, he was told there was no room for him to be taken on as an NHS patient.

What he believes should have been a simple procedure has since snowballed - and he is now facing a catalogue of issues.

He needed a set of partial dentures on his lower teeth, but after becoming left frustrated at not being admitted, he did not pursue the matter.

Now, he believes he may need surgery in the future to correct the issue - and has been left “retching” when eating.

“I couldn’t afford to have it done privately,” Mr Evans told the Lynn News, adding that he believes it would cost between £2,000 and £3,000.

“It is uncomfortable. The biggest problem is that I can’t chew food properly, so I get chewing and swallowing problems.

“I cook food, and I look at it and I have to think, ‘Is it going to choke me or break another tooth?’

“I approach it very carefully, and that in turn is giving me stomach problems.”

Mr Evans claims that a lack of NHS dental spaces in the area is the main cause of his dilemma.

West Norfolk’s “dental desert” has been well documented in recent years, with NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board publishing a long-term plan for services earlier this year.

The plan lays out the key priorities for the next five years to improve services following the ICB’s own scathing report last year into the state of NHS dentistry in the area.

Five-year-olds in the borough have the highest levels of tooth decay in the entire Eastern region - with almost one in four already suffering poor oral health.

“I am old enough to remember when you had local dentists which were NHS dentists,” Mr Evans added.

“What we have got now is private companies who boast the NHS brand name.”

He is unsure what his next steps are as he seeks to find a solution to his own oral problems, but added: “Eventually I am going to get an infection and I am going to end up in A&E screaming.”