Preseli Pembrokeshire AM Paul Davies has launched a campaign to discover the depth of the dental crisis in our county.

"We have one of the lowest ratios of dentists per head of population in Wales and the service is beyond breaking point," he said. "I would like to hear from anyone having problems getting access to an NHS dentist or orthodontist."

Mr Davies led a debate on the issue in the Senedd last week and highlighted the fact that Pembrokeshire's local health board failed to spend £174,000 allocated to dentistry last year and had to return the money to central funds.

Last November there were 14,000 people on the NHS dentist waiting list, since when two new practices - at Milford Haven and Haverfordwest – have opened.

The new practices are due to take 14,000 patients but Mr Davies is concerned that the figure is just the tip of the iceberg and there may be thousands more people not on the list.

During his speech he also highlighted shortfalls in orthodontic treatment in Pembrokeshire, which especially affects children.

"I have had more letters on this issue that any other," said Mr Davies. "Our health minister admitted last year that the dental health of five-year- old children in Wales is the worst in Great Britain," he added.

"I have heard from several constituents who have had to pay hundreds of pounds for their children's orthodontic treatment. Surely, it is totally unacceptable for parents to be forced to pay for their children's treatment. How many children are missing out on treatment altogether because of their parents' inability to pay?"

Welsh Health Minister Edwina Hart admitted that Pembrokeshire does face special problems.

"Historically, there have been difficulties in attracting NHS dentists and other service providers to rural areas, and that has certainly been the case in

Pembrokeshire; the county has one of the lowest numbers of dentists per head of the population in Wales," she told him.

"The rural health panel that has been set up to look at the development of rural health services will wish to consider the provision of NHS dentistry in that area."

*If you have any concerns about dental care in Pembrokeshire then contact Mr Davies' office on 01437 766425 or email david.howlett@wales.gov.uk