One Smile Dental in Chard opened yesterday (December 4), and has taken on up to 8000 new patients.
The dental practice has also bought new jobs to the area, taking on three therapists, two dentists, seven nurses, three receptionists and a practice manager.
Three new practices in Somerset
Up to 20,000 more people across Somerset will be able to access NHS dental care thanks to three new practices opening in the county.
The first of which was in Wellington (run by Dentistry For You), which opened in October, followed closely by One Smile Dental – Chard, which opened this week, with a third practice due to open in Crewkerne in the Spring of 2026.
8000 new patients
The community has celebrated the opening of the practice this week, which, according to Farha Mohamed, partner of One Smile Dental, has taken on up to 8000 new patients. These patients expressed an interest in an appointment via an online portal or by phone for people without internet access, with more than half of those coming from Chard and the surrounding villages.
Farha Mohamed said: “I am feeling excited and really happy that finally the people of Chard can find themselves at an NHS dentist.
“We have taken on around 8000 patients so far, and we are hoping to take on more, probably around April 2026. I know there are going to be a few people who are going to be disappointed that they couldn’t get through in this intake, but like I said, we are opening again to take on more patients.
“Currently, we have five surgeries, but by April, we should be at a six-surgery capacity.”
New jobs
Farha added that the practice has taken on three therapists, two dentists, seven nurses, three receptionists and a practice manager.
By April, the practice is hoping to have another dentist too, providing at least 16 new jobs to the local community in total, with future job opportunities possible as the practice expands.
Opening ceremony
The practice was formally opened at 2.30pm on December 4 by MP for South Somerset and Yeovil, Adam Dance, who cut the ribbon.
Mr Dance said: “I think it is absolutely fantastic for Chard and the South Somerset area that we have got a new NHS dentist which has opened today, and also moving forward that we are going to have one in Crewkerne.
“It is a real positive that the ICB are investing back into Somerset, and I am looking forward to more appointments becoming available in the future.”
“Hopefully, we will be there to fill the gap”
Kiran Hanji, director of the dental practice, said: “I think we have had a great response, I am feeling very excited, more so for the patients of Chard. We have been made to feel very, very welcome in the area, and I am looking forward to getting dental health care provided for the patients.
He added: “I think we are very much community-focused. It will provide access to dentistry, both for adults and children, preventive care, routine care, and emergency care, and I think the people of Chard deserve it. Hopefully, we will be there to fill the gap, so to speak.”
Jonathan Higman, chief executive of NHS Somerset added: “We are delighted to partner with Dentistry For You and One Smile Dental, both of whom are committed to providing high-quality NHS dental care for patients with state-of-the-art facilities and equipment at their new practices.
“Good oral health is a fundamental to the overall wellbeing of our communities, yet access to NHS dental services remains a significant challenge. Improving access has been a central priority for NHS Somerset since we took on responsibility for commissioning dental care.
“One of our key focuses is ensuring that patients with urgent dental needs can receive the care and treatment they require when they need it. We are committed to supporting the Government’s mandate to deliver an additional 700,000 urgent care appointments each year across the country. For Somerset, this means an additional 13,500 urgent care appointments to be made available across the county.”
One Smile Dental – Chard is offering NHS and private dentistry and is currently not accepting new expressions of interest.
Costs for procedures are banded by the NHS, with band one costing around £27.40, band two costing £72-£73 and band three costing up to £300.
Anyone with urgent dental care needs should call 111.
