A father of five from Holts, near Oldham has died after failing to follow emergency dentist advice and seek hospital treatment for a tooth infection.
Ian Durkin could not be persuaded to go the hospital, despite protestations from his family, friends and dental professionals.
His partner Adele Riley said: "He was crying out in pain but you couldn’t persuade him to go to the doctors or hospital. He was stubborn like that."
Mr Durkin developed septicaemia after one of is teeth fell out but instead of seeking treatment, tried to numb the pain with alcohol. He was tragically admitted dead on arrival at hospital on April 3rd.
Elsewhere, figures compiled by the NHS Information Centre recently revealed the number of UK adults who visited a dentist in the two years to June 30th was down in comparison to the previous 24-months.
In total, 45.9 per cent of adults saw a dental professional in the two years to June 30th 2009, while 51 per cent was recorded in the earlier period.
