Hundreds queued to register with Aria Van Drie

The Daily Mail reports that Aria Van Drie, 60, was given a community service order in Holland for her part in an assault on another dentist.

Ms Van Drie is said to be appealing against the conviction.

Colin Barnes, who chairs the primary care trust in Scarborough, said they were concerned about the allegations.

He added: "If is found that there is some substance to this, we will take appropriate action."

Shortage of dentists

Earlier, Michael Whitworth, the chief executive of the primary care trust, said all the required checks had been carried out with the General Dental Council (GDC).

In a statement the GDC said nothing in Ms Van Drie's application for permission to practice in Britain had raised any concern.

However it has now received "certain allegations" about the dentist and inquiries were being made to see if there was any basis for them.

Ms Van Drie's arrival in Scarborough prompted hundreds of people to queue to register with her clinic, highlighting the shortage of NHS dentists.

A second dentist has since been appointed to the practice and there are plans to recruit a third.

In a statement, the Department of Health said it welcomed the action taken by the Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Primary Care Trust to investigate the allegations about Ms Van Drie.

No patients were being seen at the surgery in New Queen Street in Scarborough on Thursday morning.

One patient told BBC Radio York that he had been told it would be closed for two days.