A fifth of UK adults have performed a dental procedure on themselves

This comes as 6.5m (12 per cent) people admit to not having seen a dentist for more than five years, despite NHS guidance recommending individuals visit one every two years.

Nearly half (48 per cent) of UK adults say they have been put off going to the dentist. When asked why, 13 per cent say they can’t afford it, and 12 per cent are afraid or have a phobia of the dentist.

One in ten (10 per cent) said they cannot get registered at an NHS dentist, and eight per cent haven’t seen a dentist in a long time and are worried their teeth will need a lot of work. Seven per cent put off seeing a dentist because there aren't enough appointments at times that suit them. A further seven per cent said their dentist had gone private, and they either can’t afford or don’t want to pay for private dentistry.