Ammanford's dental services are leaving a gaping chasm in the town's dental health care following Hywel Dda's decision to stall on its commitment to restoring the Margaret Street practice.

As a result, dental services aren't expected to resume in the town until September.

This news comes as a blow to residents who were expecting full services to resume early in the year.

“The closure of the Margaret Street prctice last year was a real disappointment to residents and now, to be told that we will only see emergency dental care return, feels like a double blow," commented Adam Price, the Senedd Member for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr.

"There are thousands of my constituents who depend on this service, but they now face a seven-month wait to receive regular dental services.

The Margaret Street practice closed its doors for the last time in May 2022, leaving residents without regular services. Following discussions in December, a new agreement was in place from the Hywel Dda Health Board to reintroduce services by February 2023.

But following a question recently asked in the Senedd Chamber by Adam Price, the Health Minister Eluned Morgan explained that these services will not return to Ammanford until September 2023.

Adam Price has now expressed his concern that the routine dental services are being further delayed.

“One of the problems is that the current premises is not functional,” he said.

“This is creating a problem and it will take time to ensure that the premises is capable of treating people. As a result, this won’t be ready until September.”

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It was also confirmed that a ‘mobile dental unit’ and hub will now be put in place so that urgent care can take place from February.

“I will continue to make the case to the Welsh Government and the Health Board that there must be an interim solution for routine dental care in Ammanford," confirmed Mr Price.

"To not do this will ensure that there will be a deluge of demand come September and my concern is that no practice will be able to meet it.”