Bosses at West Earlham Dental Practice, in NR5, want to build a single extension to its premises in Earlham West Centre.
According to the proposals, the extra space will enable the surgery to increase patient capacity significantly – from approximately 10,000 to 25,000 patients.
Agents for the practice said in the plans: “It will directly address a documented shortage of NHS dental provision in Norwich and across Norfolk.
“Evidence demonstrates substantially unmet needs and limited access to NHS dental services locally.”
The extension, if approved by Norwich City Council, will also include decontamination facilities to meet modern clinical standards, IT infrastructure and a revamped entrance and reception area to improve patient flow, accessibility and security.
Planning papers also say the practice is in an area “experiencing recognised health inequalities”.
It says: “Access to NHS dentistry in Norfolk has been identified as being among the poorest nationally, with high levels of unmet need.”
The surgery’s agents added: “This proposal represents a modest, well-designed extension to an established community healthcare facility.
“It delivers clear and substantial public benefits by expanding NHS dental capacity in an area of evidenced need, while remaining fully compliant with local and national planning policy.”
It comes amid a fresh wave of pressure from Norfolk MPs on the government to help end the ‘dental desert’ that stops people getting NHS treatment for their teeth.
The group has unanimously called for ministers to trigger the process which would allow a new dental school to be established in Norwich.
The University of East Anglia has received accreditation from the General Dental Council to provide undergraduate dental training.
But it cannot start enrolling students until government ministers instruct the Office for Students to allocate undergraduate places.