Dental practice group Oasis Healthcare yesterday announced profits of £1.2m, but said a shortage of dentists was hampering its ability to increase sales.

The group, which has surgeries across the UK, including 12 in the North-East and North Yorkshire, said a 58 per cent rise in turnover to £73.9m would have been higher if it had been able to fill 26 vacancies at its surgeries. But an increase in private work and opportunities to treat more NHS patients made Oasis confident about the future.

The profits were in line with expectations after Oasis stunned investors in February with a downbeat trading statement.