THOUSANDS of patients will lose their dentist after a Dolgellau practice announced it is to close this month.

The My Dentist practice, located at Mervinian House, has 4,443 patients and two full-time members of staff, but will close at the end of March due to shortage of dentists.

The practice has apparently been desperately looking for a new full-time dentist for two years but has been unable to recruit a suitable candidate.

Some patients will now be forced to travel to Welshpool, Penrhyndeudraeth or Porthmadog to receive NHS treatment.

My Dentist clinical director Steve Williams said: “There is a shortage of dentists in parts of rural Wales where long-term unfilled vacancies persist over a significant period of time.

“We have tried unsuccessfully to recruit a dentist for the last two years and, regretfully, can no longer provide services at the Mervinian House Family Dental Practice.”

Deputy mayor Delwyn Evans said the closure was “a great shame” for the town.

“It’s sad, very sad,” he said.

“So much effort was put in to getting the dentist here three or four years ago and now it seems that effort was all wasted."

Read the full story in today’s Meirionnydd edition of the Cambrian News