On Wednesday, the NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board published details of two new contracts to provide dental services, external in the Bridlington area, each lasting five years and worth more than £3m.
One is expected to be awarded to Whitecross Dental Care, which is part of the mydentist group, and the other to Genix Healthcare, which has six clinics in Yorkshire.
The contracts are likely to be confirmed on 3 March and the BBC understands they would almost double the provision already available in the town.
Bridlington resident Micheal Greenwood, 67, said he travelled to Driffield, a distance of about 13 miles (21km), for treatment as it was “impossible” to get an appointment in the town.
“Bridlington’s a poor town, people haven’t got the money to go private, they rely on the NHS,” he added.
Fellow resident Caron Urch said she hoped the new practice would save her money after she previously paid £200 to have a tooth taken out at a private dentist.
She also said her eight-year-old grandson could not get an appointment.
Reacting to the plans, Urch said: “I think it’s about time it happened because there’s just nothing around here for NHS dentists.”