Dr Usman Ullah’s new surgery, The Waterfront Clinic, is due to open in Greenock‘s Waterfront Retail Park this summer.
The dentist says his development will provide high-quality care for the community and hopes it can help Inverclyde, which has previously been dubbed a ‘dental desert’.
Dr Ullah’s surgery was recently visited by Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West MP Martin McCluskey, who launched a campaign two years ago calling for action on shortages of NHS dental places locally.
Dr Ullah said: “We are delighted to welcome Martin McCluskey MP to the site and appreciate his continued focus on improving access to NHS dentistry within Inverclyde.
“This development represents a major investment in local healthcare infrastructure and has been designed to provide modern, high-quality NHS dental care for the community for many years to come.
“Our goal is simple – to increase access, reduce waiting pressures, and provide patients with a welcoming, modern environment where they can access the care, they need closer to home.
“We know many residents have struggled to register with an NHS dentist in recent years and we hope this new facility will make a meaningful difference for individuals and families across Inverclyde.
“We look forward to opening the doors of Waterfront Dental in Summer 2026 and welcoming patients from across the area.”
In October 2024, the Telegraph revealed that the shortage of dental services had become so acute that those who weren’t signed up with an NHS dentist or couldn’t afford to pay privately were forced into a 36-mile round trip to access treatment.
The already difficult position around accessing dental services was then exacerbated by the closure of mydentist in Greenock’s George Square, before Ardgowan Dental Practice elected to cease NHS dentistry provision.
Martin McCluskey told the Telegraph that the opening of The Waterfront Clinic would help increase capacity for locals.
He said: “Access to NHS dentistry has been one of the biggest issues raised with me by local people and is an issue I’ve long campaigned on.
“Too many residents have struggled to get registered or secure timely appointments.
“It’s fantastic to see real progress being made here at the Waterfront. This new clinic will make a meaningful difference by increasing capacity and ensuring more people can access the care they need.
“This is exactly the kind of investment our community needs, and I wish Dr Ullah and his team all the best in their efforts. I will continue to push for further improvements so that everyone can access an NHS dentist when they need one.”
The Waterfront Clinic in Greenock will provide a wide range of NHS dental services and has confirmed it will accept new NHS patients.
As Inverclyde has been designated a ‘dental desert’, the dentists were able to apply for financial assistance from the Scottish Dental Access Initiative (SDAI).
The scheme was set up to provide grants for practices looking to locate in areas with dentist shortages.
The development marks a significant milestone in efforts to strengthen local healthcare infrastructure and improve outcomes for patients across Inverclyde.
Waterfront Dental expects to begin accepting NHS patient pre-registrations ahead of opening.
Further details on how residents can register their interest, opening dates and service availability will be released in due course through the clinic’s official communication channels.