A dentist practice providing NHS treatment has shut its doors after going into administration.
Brunswick Place Dental has locked its doors with patients greeted by a sign saying “this practice is now closed until further notice”.
It comes as patients across the area are still battling to access treatment on the NHS.
Among the patients struggling is retiree Sandrea Cuzzlon, 77, who was due to pick up her £1,000 dentures on Monday.
She was greeted by the locked doors instead of her dentures and is now refusing to leave the house without wearing a face mask out of fear of “scaring” people as she is toothless.
Astradent, the company behind Brunswick Place Dental, has gone into administration (Image: Newsquest)
“There has been no form of contact between the surgery and patients," Ms Cuzzlon's daughter Wendy McDonald said.
“We don’t even know if mum’s dentures are inside the building. She has been left in an undignified state and doesn’t quite know what to do.
“Mum paid Brunswick Dental around £1,000 for her treatment and they still have her new gnashers.
“It is absolutely awful. It is not a hairdresser’s; this business is for people’s health.”
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Wendy said her mum had several appointment since May and needed to have several teeth removed and replaced with dentures.
Wendy said: “After her first appointment at Brunswick Place, mum felt ok even though she knew she needed to have a lot of teeth taken out.
“But after discovering the practice is shut, she doesn’t know what to do.
“The business has folded, so what happens now?
“This is around £1,000 she has spent, and mum barely turns the heating on anymore to save money.
“The situation is rotten, and mum needs the teeth she paid for.”
Astradent, the company behind Brunswick Place Dental, has gone into administration (Image: Newsquest)
Brunswick Place Dental Practice is run by Astradent. FRP Advisory has been appointed as administrators to several five organisations.
It is not yet known why the practice – which offers NHS and private services - has gone into administration.
Banister and Polygon ward member Vivienne Windle has urged patients to contact the NHS 11 helpline if they need an emergency dentist.
She said: “For anyone who has purchased products from the private company, if they paid using a credit card, they should go to their card provider who can help them get a refund.
“Dentistry has suffered badly under the Conservative government.
“Sadly, too many people have been forced to go to a private dentist, and like all private companies, they can go bust and close at short notice.
“I hope that once the new provisions under Labour start to take effect, people will be able to see an NHS dentist.”
Astradent has also been approached for a comment.
NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight is 'working with the practice'.
A spokesperson said: “We can reassure patients that more NHS dental care has been commissioned over the past 12 months than the Astradent practice has been delivering, so patients will continue to see improvements in access to NHS dentists in Southampton despite this change.
“Some patients do find it difficult to see an NHS dentist and there is still work to do.
More dental care has been commissioned, with the NHS increasing payments to practices and it now pays for a mobile dental unit.
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