The Northern Echo manifesto is calling on the main political parties to commit to saving dentistry in the North East.

Waiting lists have been growing and the Chair of the British Dental Association has described the regional service as "hanging by a thread".

Reports have come in of families resorting to pulling out their own rotting teeth after waiting months to sign up or get an appointment at a dentist.

Eddie Crouch, Chair of the British Dental Association, said: "NHS dentistry in the North East is hanging by a thread.

"To date politicians have simply rearranged the deckchairs. What we need from all parties now is real commitment.

"Without real reform and fair funding this service won’t have a future, and millions will pay the price."

Thea Stein, the Nuffield Trust Chief Executive, said: "Across the country people are being turned away from dental practices no longer accepting NHS patients or are forced to join a waiting list which can be years long. This will be a familiar scenario for many people in the North East of England.

"The next government is going to have to be realistic about the scale of the challenge facing access to dentistry.

"The sad reality is that for any political party, even with further dental contract reform and recruiting many more dentists in the NHS, universal access to NHS dentistry has likely gone for good. Commitments from the parties so far will not be enough to make this a reality.

"The next government faces tough policy choices here which should go as far as redirecting resources to provide a basic core service for those in most need. This might mean protecting free access and care for the young, old and those on the lowest income while scaling back NHS support for some."