City patients are living with missing teeth and abscesses in their gums having battled for months to try and get a dental appointment.
As of end January 2022 Norwich has lost more than 150,000 dental appointments including more than 35,000 for children, according to a British Dental Association (BDA) freedom of information request.
It also revealed over the past year Norfolk and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group lost 7pc of its NHS dentists - a fall from 420 to 391.
A warning has come from BDA chairman Eddie Crouch who described NHS dentistry as "the last chance saloon".
He said: "Each missed appointment translates into bottled-up problems and widening oral health inequality.
“Norwich has lost more than a year’s worth of dentistry and any recovery will be impossible if ministers fail to halt the exodus from a demoralised workforce."
An NHS spokesman said the service is committed to ensuring everyone can access quality care.
But that is no reassurance to Falklands War veteran Gavin Scott, 58, from Arnfield Lane in Costessey.
He has lost five teeth because of stress from PTSD diagnosed in January 2021.
The former Royal Navy able seaman was deregistered with his previous dentist because he was unable to attend an appointment before the 2020 lockdown due to work.
Mr Scott, who has had to give up work because of his PTSD, was told last September by a dentist that fixing his teeth would cost between £1,000 and £1,500.
He said: "I have a limited budget and that amount of money is hard to find. I'm in a position where I cannot see a dentist.
"To have missing teeth is embarrassing because it and it looks as though I don't take care of myself.
"I should have gone to the dentist before and I know rules are rules but I'm dumbstruck dentists say they cannot take on NHS patients but can take on private ones. It is a hard pill to swallow."
He has approached 41 dentists with no success.
Charmaine Tuddenham, 33, from Trimming Walk, Taverham, has been unable to get an NHS dentist appointment for her, her husband or their three children.
Mrs Tuddenham said: "Two weeks ago I had an abscess. I rang the local dentist but they weren't taking on NHS patients.
"Another dentist said to ring the GP but they said it had to be seen by a dentist and another person said go to A&E. I was being passed from pillar to post."
Her abscess went down but she is worried about her children's teeth and what the family will do in an emergency.
Mrs Tuddenham said the family could not afford to become private patients adding: "It doesn't seem fair."
Optical assistant Lloyd Collier, 26, from Larkman Lane, Norwich, is similarly struggling with a decayed tooth and filling which has fallen out six times since 2020.
He has received emergency care for the filling but cannot afford private treatment.
Mr Collier felt let down by the system and said: "I'm self-conscious about my teeth."
Whereas mobile hairdresser Leighann Rogers, 27, from Mayes Close, Bowthorpe, was forced to go private this year after a filling fell out and needed replacing.
The businesswoman said it was a "struggle to find the money" adding: "I rang nine pages worth of NHS dentists and not one was taking people on.
"I know they are in demand but I feel the NHS is doing away with dental treatment. It is frustrating."
An East of England NHS spokesman said: “Urgent and emergency dental care is available for those who need it and people should use the NHS 111 service for advice on where to go.
"A new dental care provider will be opening in Norwich from July 2022, providing services for adults and children, operating from 8am-8pm, seven days a week for routine treatment, as well as urgent appointments.
“We are committed to ensuring everyone can access quality care and are working closely with dental providers to improve access to services, including inviting NHS contract holders to take on additional activity.”
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