Eleven thousand people in Pembrokeshire - almost ten percent of the population – are waiting for an NHS dentist.

It's feared that many of those who have signed on to the Local Health Board's NHS dentist waiting list have not seen a dentist for years.

The shortage of NHS dentists has become one of the biggest sources of concern at the local AMs surgeries.

"It would be fair to say that there is a whole generation of children growing up in some parts of the county who have never seen a dentist," said Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire AM Angela Burns.

"This is the greatest worry that people are raising in my surgeries after Withybush."

Paul Davies, AM for Preseli Pembrokeshire, has raised the subject with Health Minister Edwina Hart at a face to face meeting.

"She told me she was on the case, but we've heard that before," he said.

"Just a few weeks ago we read about a man from Neyland who was unable to register with an NHS dentist in the County for ten years and who now drives a 300-mile round trip to Gloucester for treatment.

"And the news that Fishguard also looks set to lose a dentist will only make this shortage worse."

Mrs Burns asked the Health Minister how the problem was being tackled in a written question this week.

"The LHB has signed contracts for six full-time dentists," replied Mrs Hart. "All patients on the LHB waiting list will be allocated to a dentist and practice. A two-chair practice will open in Milford Haven at the end of September, and a four chair practice will open in Haverfordwest on 8 November."

But the Welsh Conservative Assembly Members are worried that far more people are actually in need of a dentist than just those on the waiting list.

"What's particularly worrying is that 11,000 people have already signed up but that's probably only the tip of the iceberg as many people don't know how to register," added Mr Davies.

*To register for an NHS dentist contact the LHB on 01437 771257.