A BUILTH Wells dental practice has announced it will close at the end of the month leaving the market town with only one.

Patients have expressed their concerns after MyDentist which is based at the Glan Irfon Health and Social Care Centre on Love Lane, announced it will close on Friday, August 31.

MyDentist has blamed difficulties recruiting full-time dentists and increased running costs for the closure.

Kirsty Williams, Assembly Member for Brecon and Radnorshire, said the announcement has come as a "real blow to the community".

"This is terrible news for dental patients in Builth Wells and the surrounding communities.

“Since the news, I have had a meeting with Powys Teaching Health Boards's Dental Director. Powys are looking at a number of options including, employing a salaried dentist for the area, which I said was my preferred option.

“It is vital we find short and long-term solutions to the dentistry issues we face here in Mid Wales and I will be working with all sides to ensure those solutions are found.”

Chris Davies, the MP for Brecon and Radnorshire, said action must be taken to resolve the matter "before it gets worse".

He added that Brecon and Radnorshire "already suffers from an extreme lack" of dental practices and that the announcement is "another blow to a service we desperately need more of, not less of".

"I have written to Powys Teaching Health Board about this issue. Wales is majorly struggling to attract dentists and dental nurses to live and work here and this must change. Many constituents are paying extortionate fees privately or are travelling across the border and long distances because they have no other choice."

A spokesperson for the MyDentist practice said: “In common with a number of other dental practices, long-standing difficulties recruiting full time dentists and increased running costs have made it necessary to close the practice.

"This decision has not been taken lightly and we are doing everything we can to minimise disruption and we are working closely with the local health board.

"Registered patients with open courses of treatment will have their dental care completed or appropriately referred before 31st August. All patients have been informed of the closure, and we have provided guidance on finding an alternative dental practice by visiting www.wales.nhs.uk.”

From September the only dental practice will be the Cloverly Dental Practice on Garth Road, while the nearest MyDentist practices are based in Llandrindod Wells and Brecon.