AREAS of Darlington with the worst dental health records will benefit from an £860,000 investment into services.

NHS Darlington will use the money to open one new practice and expand another existing surgery.

The investment was originally announced in July, with health officials since identifying the areas which needed investment.

The areas chosen are those with the highest demand for dental services and in the most "challenged" wards where dental health is poorer.

A new two-dentist practice will be opened in the Eastbourne council ward. A surgery in Park East will be expanded.

It is hoped both will be opened to patients within six months.

Darlington Primary Care Trust is also aware that some people in the town have difficulties finding an NHS dentist. As a result, part of the money will be used to expand existing services and develop new ones.

The rest of the investment will be spent on specialist orthodontists in the town, with a new outreach service in Bishop Auckland to reduce waiting times.

Officials said there was a historic problem in Darlington for orthodontists, which treat uneven teeth mainly in children.

Colin Morris, chief executive of Darlington PCT, said: "This is intended as the first phase of additional investment into dental services in response to a PCT study indicating that more capacity is required to reduce waiting times.

"It builds on the steady, additional investment made by the PCT over the last few years.

"Local people have told us that they want to be able to access routine dental treatment within a reasonable time period.

"Over the course of the next few months, this additional investment will help to increase access and make it easier for the public to make routine dental appointments."

David Landes, deputy director of public health for County Durham PCT and Darlington PCT, said: "Darlington PCT is committed to improving access to NHS dental services for local people.

"The £860,000 extra investment is going to be used in areas of high dental need or with restricted existing access to NHS dental services and will help many local people who previously had problems securing NHS dental care."

Any member of the public requiring advice on access to NHS dental treatment should contact NHS Direct on 0191-218-6940.