On Tuesday, Richard Wilson and partners announced both their Carlisle and Penrith premises would cease NHS practice in February.

It was also announced the patient list would be halved.

Mr Wilson said it was a reluctant decision but he believed patients would be offered better care, but health bosses said they were disappointed.

He said uncertainty over a new NHS contract, which is being introduced in April, was one of the reasons for the decision.

Mr Wilson said he had experienced recruitment problems within the NHS.

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He said: "Despite Cumbria being a fantastic part of the world to live, it seems that a lot of younger dentists don't want to work in NHS practice.

"I advertised in the British Dental Journal six months ago for a dentist to replace a colleague who was leaving and had absolutely no response at all.

"Just yesterday I placed an advert again but this time I was advertising it as a private position and so far today I have already had two people contacting me."

North Cumbria Primary Care Trusts said it had been in discussion with the practice for some time and was disappointed at the decision.

It said it was determined to replace the loss and also provide 36,000 more NHS dental places across North Cumbria.

Director of commissioning Michael Smillie said: "The government is due to issue all dentists with details of a new contract in the next few weeks.

"We urge all dentists to consider the details when it is issued rather than decided to leave the NHS now."