Research reveals that approximately 7 per cent of British adults have attempted dental procedures on themselves, putting their oral health at significant risk.

A nationwide poll involving 2,000 participants uncovered that some individuals have taken extreme measures, including removing teeth with pliers, smoothing rough enamel, and attempting to burst gum infections.

Among those who performed their own dental work, over a third had wrenched a tooth out using pliers, nearly half relied on homemade solutions for pain management, just under a third attempted to reattach crowns or fillings with adhesive, just under three in ten filed down damaged teeth, and nearly one in five tried to release pus from infected gum tissue.

A consumer specialist employed by the financial services firm noted that while self-extraction of teeth might seem like a practice from another era, for certain households it has become a desperate final option.

This expert warned that do-it-yourself dental work seldom addresses the underlying issue. Such attempts frequently result in increased discomfort, more complex problems, and substantially higher costs when professional treatment eventually becomes necessary.

Survey participants identified two primary obstacles: the prohibitive expense of private dental treatment and challenges obtaining National Health Service dental appointments. Approximately 9 per cent of those surveyed reported being unable to access National Health Service dental care.