NINE new NHS dentists will set up in Southampton in a bid to tackle the city's chronic dental crisis, the Daily Echo can reveal.

The announcement could mean up to 18,000 more residents having regular access to government-funded dentists on their doorsteps.

Currently there are only three surgeries left in the city taking on NHS patients. They can be found in Landguard Road, Shirley, Queens Terrace, Southampton and Lordshill Health Centre.

The news was announced yesterday by former health minister John Denham after figures showed that only one in three adults in Hampshire are treated by NHS dentists.

The Southampton Itchen MP spoke out as health minister Rosie Winterton visited the city, insisting the Department of Health was "determined" to crack the shortage.

Mr Denham was given the news by Southampton Primary Care Trust (PCT) bosses while he was following up a complaint from one of his constituents about the lack of dental care available in the area.

Mr Denham said: "There is still a way to go but dentistry is now moving in the right direction."

The Daily Echo highlighted only last month how dental care across the county has been crippled.

Thousands of patients are still struggling to find treatment as dentists close their books or go private.

The MP added: "Last time Rosie Winterton came to Southampton it was to talk about dentistry.

"Since then I have heard from the PCT about its determination to ease the dentist shortage.

"I have been told that at least nine new dentists are coming to the city, including a specialist orthodontist.

"In addition, changes are being made to the directly-employed dental service, as opposed to the self-employed dental practices, to offer a general dental service. The mobile service in Weston is also to continue."

Figures published last month showed that only 40 dentists in Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight had not closed their books to NHS patients.

The number of practices in the county had slumped from 565 in 2002 to 431 in 2003.

NHS Direct's website was informing toothache-sufferers to travel nearly 30 miles to register for dental treatment.

According to Liberal Democrat statistics, registration had declined sharplyacross the region.

Just 32.4 per cent of adults and 54.8 per cent of children in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight were registered last year, compared to 51.1 per cent and 65.5 per cent respectively in 1997.

Last year, the government pledged to recruit an extra 1,000 dentists by October this year and to increase training places by 25 per cent.