PETERSFIELD'S new NHS dental practice opens its doors on Monday.

The new practice, based at 34 High Street, will employ four dental surgeries, and is expected to take on 7,000 new patients in the next year, according to health chiefs.

However, after high numbers of calls to the registration helpline number, Hampshire Primary Care Trust has said that not all the places have been released yet, in order to treat those seeking emergency treatment first.

Hampshire Primary Care Trust's lead commissioning manager for primary care dental services, Natalie Jones, said: "We know the Dental Helpline is experiencing a high number of calls at the moment so people may be finding it difficult to get through.

"We are taking a limited number of names each month so that we can ensure patients do not have to wait too long to see the dentist.

"If you don't need to be seen immediately, please be patient and call the dental helpline in the next couple of months."

The practice is at the former base of Your Move estate agents.

To register for dental care at the practice, call the Dental Helpline on 0845 0508345. The helpline will take calls from Monday to Friday, from 2.30pm-5.30pm.

The practice will not be able to accept patients who go directly to them, either in person or via telephone, but patients currently being seen by the Petersfield Hospital weekend service will automatically be transferred to the new practice.

The practice, owned by Bolton-based firm Integrated Dental Holdings, will be managed and operated by Whitecross Dental Care Limited.

Julia Bagshaw, head of primary care contracting for Hampshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) added: "We are pleased to be offering more NHS dental services in Petersfield and bringing more NHS dentists to the area."

Dental patients seeking NHS treatment in Petersfield had previously had to travel as far as Winchester and Aldershot.