PATIENTS have been left wondering where else they can go after two dentists revealed they are to close.

My Dentist practices in Richmond and Catterick will close as there are “not enough dentists to fulfil their NHS contract”, a spokesperson confirmed.

After the revelation, nearby Alpha Dental Studio in Catterick and Lion House Dental Practice in Richmond said they are full and are unable to take on new patients.

Those wishing to register with an NHS dentist will now have to travel to Darlington or Teesside.

Rishi Sunak MP has written to NHS dentistry chiefs urging them to plug the gap in the area and make more places available.

He said: "I made representations to NHS England about this issue at the end of last year and was told a review of NHS dentistry was taking place across Yorkshire which would aim to improve the service in areas like Catterick Garrison which is a growing community.

"In my letter sent this week I have urged them to allocate the NHS money spent through My Dentist to other dentists in the Richmond and Catterick area. This cannot wait for a county-wide review to run its course."

Mr Sunak said he understood there were dentists in the area with the physical capacity to treat more NHS patients once a suitable funding arrangement was in place.

County councillor Jim Clark, chair of the Scrutiny of Health Committee, said: “There is a shortage of dentists throughout North Yorkshire and these are just another in a line – we have a similar situation in Harrogate.

“It is increasingly harder to recruit dentists like it is in the whole of the NHS right now.

“We wrote to NHS England and are still waiting for an update of how they will address the matter.”

Ian Gordon is a partner of Alpha Dental Studio and chair of North Yorkshire Local Dental Committee (LDC).

He said: “A few years ago we noticed requests from patients at My Dentist who wanted to join Alpha Dental as they were struggling to retain dentists which meant patients never saw the same person twice.

“We knew, as well as NHS England did, that this issue was going to come to a head.

“We have been asking for additional funding and are concerned the NHS has failed to act. Unfortunately, My Dentist are victims of the system.”

Many patients took to social media. One Facebook post read: “With horror I have just learnt My Dentist is to close in Richmond…bad news for Richmond…”

Another read: “Thank goodness I ditched the one on the Garrison years ago and went to Alpha. Ridiculous though, what are people to do?”

The dentists are due to close on April 1, with emergency treatment being passed to neighbouring practices.

  • NHS patients now looking for practices should visit www.nhs.uk or call the NHS helpline on 111.