Five new dental practices to open in Kent

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NHS England has confirmed that five new dental practices will open in Kent.

Four dental centres will open in Dover, Faversham, Sevenoaks and Dartford and there are also plans to set up a new clinic in Minster. Each new practice is equivalent to hiring three new NHS dentists.

News of the new practices will be welcomed across the county, with a growing number of patients struggling to access NHS services. The demand for appointments has increased during the pandemic and the new centres will help teams to tackle backlogs and enable more patients to see a dentist without having to wait for long periods.

Initially, plans suggest that the new practices will be charged with delivering urgent care to ease pressure on existing emergency dental services and speed up the return of routine dentistry. Each contract will stipulate a set number of urgent appointments, which will be available to patients who need emergency treatment. The clinics will also offer appointments outside of traditional working hours to give patients more flexibility, with services on offer during evenings and weekends.

NHS representatives have also confirmed that capacity is increasing in Canterbury, Sittingbourne, Tonbridge and Swale and there are also plans to expand an existing practice in Sandwich.

The exact details of timings and planned openings have not yet been confirmed. NHS England representatives will provide more information about the new practices and offer advice to help patients in Kent find local dentists in due course.

Anyone who is searching for urgent dental care services or a new dentist in Kent can call the dental helpline on 0300 123 4412 or use the NHS Choices website.

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