A further 2,000 patients to be deregistered from Dumfries dental practice
This affects patients aged 18 and over.
Around another 2,000 patients in Dumfries are to be deregistered from a dental practice.
One of the dentists at Great King Street Dental in the town is ending NHS services for adults.
Now patients aged 18 and over will have to either go private or go further afield as there are no dentists in the region accepting new patients.
To follow NHS dental services regulations, letters have been issued providing three months’ notice.
Director of Dentistry Alison Milne said: “We have been notified of the decision to deregister these patients, which means they will now need to seek alternative provision.
“Unfortunately, many will be aware that there are no dentists within the region currently accepting new NHS registrations.
“We fully recognise the frustration very likely to be felt by these patients, as experienced by many others who have faced a similar situation in recent years.”
Director of Public Health Valerie White said: “We have seen some success recently through the expansion of the dental outreach programme for the region.
“The 12 places for dentists in training plus tutors and support makes NHS Dumfries and Galloway the biggest outreach dental training facility in Scotland.
“These undergraduate students are able to offer a single course of treatment to patients who are not currently registered with an NHS dentist, with treatment free of charge, and the waiting list for this is currently open and accepting new patients. Members of the public who are not registered with a dentist can self-refer: dg.dentalhelpline@nhs.scot
“However, while this is a very positive development, we know that this does not address the issue of providing people with regular, ongoing access to an NHS dentist.
“We continue work to encourage and support dentists to provide NHS general dental services and are working closely with Scottish Government colleagues on these matters.”