THOUSANDS of patients in Ryedale face losing NHS treatment after changes to the local dental service.

The situation is reaching crisis point, according to John Renshaw, a Scarborough dentist who was formerly chairman of the British Dental Association, who said that the loss of dentists in the area could leave about 3,000 patients in the lurch.

The situation will worsen later this year when the Criterion Dental Surgery in Finkle Street, Malton, becomes private.

Last year, one dentist from the surgery moved away from the area and now patients have been sent a letter announcing the imminent retirement of a second dentist there.

Mr Renshaw said that, assuming every dentist treats an average of 1,700 people, about 3,000 patients would be affected.

As a result, NHS patients look set to face increased treatment costs.

Stephen Davies, a dentist at the Criterion, said the decision to go private had been taken because of difficulties in trying to attract an NHS dentist to the practice.

He said: "We have taken this decision after a great deal of thought and we have given patients as much notice as possible of this change. Most patients have been supportive but I am sorry to those who are disappointed."

Mr Renshaw said there are currently only four NHS dentists in the towns, and none of them was taking additional patients.

"The situation really is very grim because there are not enough dentists to go round," he said.

"There are only four of them to cover every NHS patient in the Malton and Norton and surrounding areas which clearly isn't enough.

"The only way to rectify the situation is for the local primary care trust to use a lot of investment to attract more dentists to the area."

Updated: 11:50 Wednesday, May 29, 2002