Some 34 dental practices across Bradford and Airedale are currently taking on new patients, according to the local primary care trust (PCT).
Helen Hirst, director of primary care and public engagement at NHS Bradford and Airedale, told Bradford Council’s health improvement committee that places at NHS dental practices in the district are not as limited as many people think.
"There’s a big perception issue here," she said. "We’ve heard there are now 34 practices accepting patients. We have to do a big public campaign to explain that."
She added that the database used to match local residents with an NHS dentist was no longer required.
Councillor Joanne Dodds said: "Thirty-four practices accepting new patients is wonderful. What it means is people not happy with their dentist can choose where to go."
NHS Bradford and Airedale have invested £1.5 million in four new practices over the past two years and a further £3.8 million on improving existing practices.
Earlier this year, the PCT also secured a £1.2 million investment from the Department of Health, of which £520,000 will be used to build a new dental surgery at the home of Bradford City Football Club .
Once up and running next year the new practice at the football ground in Manningham will have capacity for to up to 5,600 patients a year.
