The ongoing dental crisis will take at least two more years to clear, Darlington residents have been told, as people have been forced to wait over three years for treatment. 

Issues of long waiting lists, practices not accepting new patients and NHS recruitment difficulties were laid bare at a special healthcare meeting with councillors this week. 

But as many have seen their access to regular treatment reduced, people have shockingly resorted to taking their own teeth out in a drastic bid to ease the pain. 

Health officials warned that the dental demand remains “very high” due to the Covid backlog, with practices around the town struggling to cope with rising demand. 

Just 12 NHS dental practices remain in Darlington after Burgess + Hyder, which served hundreds of residents in Firthmoor, announced its closure in two weeks. 

Councillors heard how staff recruitment and retention issues have caused practices to close their books, meaning hundreds of residents cannot get treatment. 

Senior primary care manager, Pauline Fletcher said: “The backlog of care is going to take another two years. The capacity and capability to deliver isn’t what it once was. 

“Demand for NHS dental care remains very high due to the Covid backlog. Practices are still struggling to meet the demand.”

The stark warning comes less than a year after The Northern Echo revealed Darlington is one of many towns where no dental practices have availability for patients without a referral.

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The Northern Echo: Residents have struggled to access both routine and urgent dentistry careResidents have struggled to access both routine and urgent dentistry care (Image: Sarah Caldecott)

Residents struggling to access both routine and urgent dentistry care have bombarded its politicians, begging for help – the town’s MP, Peter Gibson, says he continues to hear about how residents have been shut out. 

Health officials say they are “absolutely committed” to restoring the Firthmoor service but urged residents only to seek treatment in an emergency. Dental network chair, Tom Robson said: “The key message we want to enforce is you don’t necessarily need a check-up every six months.”

Peter Gibson MP said: “NHS England is now seeking to put extra commissioning in place in Darlington, funded at a rate which will make it much more financially viable for Dentists locally to provide a service, which will in turn, once commissioned, see greater capacity.”