Ex-miner gets new teeth after months of waiting

David Creamer said he lived with "unbearable" pain for months waiting for an NHS dentist appointment.

A former miner is smiling again after finally getting a new set of teeth after months of "unbearable" pain.

David Creamer lost a crown and five teeth last year and was told he would need to have all his teeth removed and dentures fitting.

Unable to afford the private cost of treatment he tried to get an appointment with 16 different NHS dentists but could not be seen.

He was eventually offered an appointment with a dentist in Rotherham after his case was highlighted by the BBC.

The 62-year-old admitted he had not "looked after his teeth" over the last 20 years.

He was on holiday last June when he lost a crown and after paying for a private consultation he was told most of his teeth would need extracting and dentures fitting.

But Mr Creamer said that as he was on benefits, he could not afford the £5,274 bill for the work.

He said he was “too embarrassed” to leave the house.

“I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life on pain killers and soup," he said.

After seven month he was contacted by the Ivy Cottage Practice in Rotherham, part of the Riverdale Healthcare Group.

Despite being unable to take on new patients, the practice were able to reallocate funds to offer extra NHS appointments to some residents who required emergency treatment.

Dental director Ian Gordon said: "We have been working with the Yorkshire and North East ICBs to offer additional access sessions across 24 practices.

"We have been able to provide 3,500 sessions treating some 24,000 patients over the last 18 months."

He said while the sessions were limited it enabled them to help patients who would have struggled to access dental care.

A spokesperson for the NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board said they had been commissioning dental practices to offer these "urgent access sessions" to improve NHS dentistry access to help patients like Mr Creamer.

“Patients are advised if they have an urgent dental need then they should contact NHS 111 or their local dentist and an appointment will be offered if it is deemed clinically appropriate, following a telephone triage," they added.

Mr Creamer first realised there was a problem with his teeth after biting into a sandwich on holiday in Blackpool

Mr Creamer admitted he thought it was a “hoax” when he was finally offered an appointment.

“When they put me on the magic chair with all the flashing lights, I thought I was in Captain Kirk’s spaceship."

Mr Creamer has had his teeth extracted and his top set of dentures already fitted.

He said it had enabled him to expand his food options.

“I can have the big lumpy soup now with chunks, I can eat real food, when the bottom set is finished I’ll treat myself to a steak.

“It feels a lot better, to have teeth and to be able to look in the mirror with teeth is brilliant."

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