Dentists get their teeth into gaps in provision

THE East Riding's newest dental surgery will be officially opened on Monday as part of a programme to fill an alarming number of gaps in NHS dentistry provision.

Snaith Dental Care practice, which began admitting patients in September, will be opened by Karen Knapton, chairman of NHS East Riding, and Brigg and Goole MP Andrew Percy.

The surgery, which will cost about 390,000 a year to run, is part of 2.8m spent by NHS East Riding over the last two years to improve access to NHS dentists.

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Other practices have been opened in Market Weighton and Withernsea, and the money has also funded increased capacity at 17 other dentists in the region.

Ms Knapton said: "Increasing NHS dental capacity is a top priority for us.

"I'm very pleased that a further 36,000 patients have been able to access NHS dentistry in the East Riding since April 2009 through the opening of new practices and increased capacity at existing practices.

"The Snaith practice has been enthusiastically welcomed by the local community and I am delighted to be officially opening this first class new facility."

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The practice will meet the needs of about 5,000 patients in the Snaith area and is operated by dental partners Tony O'Brien and Chris Siddle, who also have a practice in Selby.

Mr O'Brien said: "We are very excited about offering NHS dental treatment in newly transformed premises using the very latest equipment.

"We use the latest digital X-ray system and have two dedicated rooms with all the very latest equipment for instrument cross-infection control.

"Since opening in September the patient response has been overwhelming.

"We have not yet advertised due to the huge initial response and will welcome any new patient wishing to transfer from their existing dentist as well as those with no current dentist."