Cerys Hepton was placed on an NHS waiting list to have a tooth taken out under a general anaesthetic as she was believed to be too nervous to have the treatment at a dental surgery.

But her mum, Sarah Hepton, of Gildercliffe, was stunned when she was told it may take up to a month, even though Cerys was suffering from pain and swelling in the face.

During the three-week wait Cerys took antibiotics and painkillers and had to spend a couple of days off school – but the little girl is now feeling better after having a staggering eight teeth removed!

Miss Hepton, 24, said: “Cerys is on the mend and she’s back at school. She had to have more teeth out than expected as the infection had spread. I don’t know if this had anything to do with the wait as no-one could confirm this.”

Miss Hepton, an administration assistant, wanted to thank Ryedale Dental Surgery, which offered to try and carry out the extractions under a local anaesthetic but again, Cerys was too anxious.

She said: “The staff were fantastic with her, as were the people at Northway Clinic. I was also pleased with how the treatment was eventually carried out at York Hospital – they were great.”

Miss Hepton added: “Cerys is back to normal now. She was given £6 from the tooth fairy and she’s excited about her new teeth coming through.”

When Cerys was first placed on the waiting list, a spokesman for North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust said: “One reason emergency care may not take place is if the patient feels they are not able to have the necessary treatment under local anaesthetic.

“If a general anaesthetic is needed then this requires treatment within a hospital to ensure the highest standards of patient safety.”