The future of a north Norfolk dental practice remains uncertain after being put up for sale due to a shortage of dentists.

Bupa Dental Care in North Walsham is still searching for a new owner to take over the Market Place practice after the private healthcare provider announced earlier this year that it will be closing the practice.

READ MORE: Norfolk dental practice up for sale due to dentist shortage

It comes as Bupa Dental Care made the “difficult decision” to close, sell or merge 85 of its 450 UK dental practices because of a national shortage of dentists and increasing running costs caused by inflation and rising energy prices.

A Bupa spokesperson said: “Following the very difficult decision to seek an alternative owner for this practice, we are making progress and optimistic that a local provider can be found to continue access to NHS dental services in the local community.”

READ MORE: Pharmacy denies redundancies and staff shortages as reasons behind temporary closure

The practice is currently open as usual and has said it will write to all patients in due course.

It said that by allowing the NHS contract to transfer to new owners, access to NHS dental services will continue for patients.

However, a buyer is yet to be found. 

Mark Allan, general manager for Bupa Dental Care, said: “We fully understand the impact the decision has on our patients and our people within these practices.

“This decision has not been taken lightly and closure is a last resort. Despite our continued efforts, the dental industry is facing a number of significant and systemic challenges that are placing additional pressure on providing patient care, in particular recruiting dentists to deliver NHS dental care.

“This decision enables us to focus our efforts on high-quality, continued sustainable care for patients across our wider portfolio.”