Thousands of people in Bristol will be able to see NHS dentists after a £15 million injection from health bosses.

The cash from NHS Bristol will see five new dental practices created in the city to cover the following areas:

● Bishopsworth and Filwood

● St George

● Avonmouth and Kingsweston

● Lawrence Hill and Cabot

● Lockleaze.

The most recent figures, from March this year, show that there are 205 dentists working in Bristol, in 64 practices.

The new practices are part of a move to create more dental services in deprived parts of the city, particularly where there is little, or no cover.

In the last two years, new NHS surgeries have already opened in Hartcliffe and Southmead.

In May NHSSouth Gloucestershire opened a new surgery at the Tesco Willow Brook Centre in Bradley Stoke.

Not only is there a lack of cover in some areas, but Bristol residents also struggle to see an NHS dentist because some dentists in the city have taken on more private work.

Some dentists disagree with the new system of commissioning NHS contracts, introduced three years ago.

But the five new practices will mean that more than 50,000 residents will have better access to an NHS dentist.

Planning work has already begun on the practices, with limited services due to be available from early autumn.

Patients will be able to have appointments in the five surgeries by April 2010 and will have access to a full range of NHS treatments.

NHS Bristol chief executive Deborah Evans said: "NHS Bristol aims to provide dental services where they are needed – regardless of where you live – and this is what we are doing. These five new surgeries will make it easier for more people across Bristol to see an NHS dentist."

In 2007 a detailed analysis was undertaken to highlight the areas in the city where access to an NHS dentist was difficult.

The target is to ensure more than 70 per cent of Bristol residents have easy access to an NHS dentist – a massive increase.

If you are currently looking for an NHS dentist in Bristol, call the local dental helpline on 0845 120 6680.

John Langley, chair of the local involvement network (LINk) for health and social care in Bristol, said: "It has to be good news. The amount of investment says a lot for NHS Bristol."