BUILTH Wells' closed NHS dental practice could be up and running again as early as January following the appointment of a dentist and dental nurse.

Powys Teaching Health Board (PTHB) is currently assigning the lease and existing dental suite equipment at Glan Irfon Health & Social Care Centre. Once the lease is finalised PTHB will start booking routine appointments.

Kirsty Williams AM has received an update from PTHB on the dental provision situation which is "still of concern" to people living in Builth Wells and the surrounding area.

During the last couple of months, a dentist, dental nurse and receptionist have been appointed and are expected to start on January 2, 2019, and two existing dentists will work an extra three days a week.

A foundation dentist scheme by the Wales Dental Postgraduate unit could begin from August 2019 at Glan Irfon if talks in January are successful.

PHTB took over dental service provisions in Builth Wells since mydentist dental practice announced in the summer that they were closing. They blamed recruitment difficulties and increased running costs for the closure. Builth Wells has since been left with only one dental practice for almost three months.