AT LEAST another 1,500 dental patients will be taken on by a Fareham practice after it won approval from planning chiefs for an extension to new premises.

Private dentist Titchfield Dental Health hopes to ease the area's dental crisis by nearly doubling its patient numbers.

A home in Southampton Road, Park Gate, is to be converted into the new base of the practice, currently in South Street, Titchfield, and should be up and running by the end of the year.

Owner Dr Clare Chavasse, who job-shares as a dentist with Dr Judith Deeprose, will employ another full-time dentist, hygienist and more support staff.

Practice manager Sharon Nanson said: "After years of being fully booked we are very excited because we can take on new patients.

"Though we have been very happy here in Titchfield, we feel the move will benefit both patients and team members, as we will have more space and flexibility for appointments.

"We will have two dentists and one hygienist working every day, so appointments can be combined to save on visits, and there is plenty of parking."

Work on the house, which is having a large extension added, is expected to take four months.

The new practice is expected to open during the first week in October.

Titchfield Dental Health has about 2,000 patients on its books, but it has occasionally had to close its books to new patients over the last three years.

There is just one remaining NHS dentist taking on new patients in the Fareham and Gosport area - one of just six across the region still accepting adult NHS patients.

For more information on becoming a Titchfield Dental Health patient, call 01329 842288.