Hundreds queued to register with Aria Van Drie

Newspapers have reported Scarborough's newest dentist Aria van Drie, 60, has a criminal record in Holland, after an incident with another dentist.

Ms van Drie is said to be appealing and legal papers from the Dutch court are being flown to the Primary Care Trust.

Media interest is said to have prompted the closure for at least two days.

Unfair on patients

Chief executive of the Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale PCT Michael Whitworth said the media had raised several concerns, most of which were unfounded.

But he said there were some "technical legal issues" that were taking longer to resolve.

"We feel that the practice isn't able to operate as a normal practice at the moment.

"It's unfair on patients, so what we decided was to close the practice.

"Let's resolve all these matters fully and then look at reopening."

Shortage of dentists

Mr Whitworth described Ms van Drie as an experienced dental practitioner and said all the required checks had been carried out with the General Dental Council (GDC).

In an earlier statement, the GDC said nothing in Ms van Drie's application for permission to practice in Britain had raised any concern.

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.