MyDentist, on Prestatyn High Street, will be without NHS provision after the practice confirmed its sole NHS dentist was moving into private practice.
Clwyd MS Darren Millar has expressed his deep concern that yet another NHS dentist in his constituency is going private.
Mr Millar wrote to the practice last week seeking confirmation regarding the loss of the last remaining NHS clinician at the practice after being contacted by a registered NHS patient at the surgery who had been told by staff that the practice was “winding down its NHS patients and becoming totally private”.
In an emailed response the practice stressed that they were “actively working to recruit a replacement NHS dentist”.
They did however say that the recruitment of NHS dentists in North Wales “continues to be a particularly challenging” and “they have been making sustained efforts to attract NHS clinicians to the area for several years with limited success”.
“In recent years I have witnessed the loss of a good number of NHS dental practices in my constituency and repeatedly called on the Welsh Government to respond to the crisis,” said Mr Millar.
“It is extremely disappointing to hear that we are going to lose another one, this time in Prestatyn.
“It is reassuring to hear that the practice remains committed to restoring NHS dental provision and are actively trying to attract an NHS clinician, but, as they acknowledged, this is not an easy task here in Wales.
“As I have repeatedly stated, we need to get to grips with this problem once and for all. We need incentives for people to train in Wales, and we need incentives for them to work in the NHS once they are trained.
“The loss of NHS dentists is leaving thousands of people across Wales unable to access the care they need, forcing families to travel long distances, pay privately, or simply go without treatment altogether. This is unacceptable.
“Patients have waited long enough. It’s time for the Welsh Government to stop making excuses and start delivering real solutions.”
MyDentist Prestatyn is advising patients who wish to continue accessing NHS dental care to register on the Dental Access Portal.
Patients will then be allocated by the Health Board to another NHS dental provider in the area when an NHS place become available.
MyDentist in Prestatyn will be approached for comment.