A NEW £700,000 dentist set to open in Cowley this week will serve an extra 6,000 Oxford patients.

The Westbridge Dental Practice will replace the existing dentist in Templars Square.

The existing practice serves around 16,000 NHS patients.

But the new purpose-built centre, constructed using private and NHS money, will serve 22,000 residents.

Practice owner Peter Otzen, who has operated in Cowley for 20 years, said he was looking forward to the official opening on Friday.

He said: “Everything is new and very high tech – it’s absolutely amazing.

“Because Cowley and the surrounding areas are classified as ‘high need’ for dental care, we were able to qualify for additional funding from the Primary Care Trust.

“We were very fortunate, as due to the present economic climate, I doubt there will be this opportunity again for quite a long time.”

NHS Oxfordshire failed to provide the latest figures for how many dentists were taking on new NHS patients, and how many Oxfordshire residents were on a waiting list to see one.

A spokesman said no-one from the primary care trust’s dental team was in the office to answer questions.

But according to the latest information available from the 2010 Oral Health Needs Assessment, in 2006 in Oxfordshire there were 298 NHS dentists, with 49.5 per cent of the population (299,592) being seen at least once by an NHS dentist in the previous 24 months.

In 2010, the number of NHS dentists had risen to 309, and 51 per cent of the population, with some 311,386 people regularly visiting one of the practices.

Last year it was revealed that 72 per cent of Oxfordshire’s under 16-year-olds get their teeth treated every two years.

But only 46 per cent of children in the OX3 and OX4 postcodes saw a dentist regularly.

An NHS study also revealed children in thOSe areas are more likely to have decayed, missing or filled teeth.

Mr Otzen said: “I’m delighted to be able to provide so many new NHS places at a time when a lot of people need all the financial help they can get.”

The opening of the Westbridge Dental Practice will be attended by Oxford East MP Andrew Smith, the Mayor of Oxford, the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire and dignitaries from the NHS and local deanery.

  • Anyone wanting to register with the practice should call 01865 771729.