The BJGP found that the patients’ decision to visit their GP was influenced by various factors: their interpretation of their symptoms, perception of the scope of what GPs offer, the comparative ease of booking and navigating medical appointments compared with dental ones, anxiety around dental care and ability or willingness to pay for dental care.

According to the report, the answer to this issue is effective intervention in order to break down barriers that prevent access to dental care. Public-facing information may be needed in order to explain when and why dental care might be required, and practices should educate those presenting dental problems as necessary.

Dental practices should also be encouraged to maintain timely access to urgent care for patients.

Dr Steve Mowle, honorary treasurer of the Royal College of GPs, said: ‘The health service is struggling across the board at the moment, and we recognise that patients may struggle to get an NHS dental appointment, just as we know many are finding it difficult to get a GP appointment. Surgeries employing GPs with additional training in complementary medicine less likely to prescribe antibiotics. While GPs are trained to deal with a multitude of health concerns, we are not trained to treat dental problems – there are best left to the care of a professional dentist or, if required, urgent care services.

‘With GPs already seeing more than a million patients in the UK every day, and increasing number of patients waiting more than a week to see a GP, seeing patients with dental problems isn’t the best use of our time, and anyone who does try to book an appointment for a dental problem will most likely be referred to an appropriate alternative.’