The nearest NHS dentist will now be in either Carmarthen or Swansea

Children and people exempt from paying because of low income will still be treated for free if already registered at some surgeries in the town but everyone else will have to pay private fees or take out insurance.

Health service watchdogs are warning it will cause further problems as there is already a chronic shortage of NHS practices in west Wales.

Last year more than 600 people queued to register at a practice in Carmarthen after it announced it had NHS vacancies.

I'm seeing some constituents coming into the office and it is causing them real stress and worry Catherine Thomas AM

A petition against the move has been handed in to Llanelli MP Denzil Davies.

AM Catherine Thomas said the issue was causing real concern.

"I'm seeing some constituents coming into the office and it is causing them real stress and worry," she said.

Ms Thomas said she will be meeting health service managers to discuss the concerns.

More than 600 people queued to get on a Carmarthen NHS dental list

Martin Morris, chief officer with the Llanelli Dinefwr Community Health Council, said another practice in Ammanford had recently announced it was going private.

"There is a shortage of NHS dentists and it is a major problem. It's been building up over a number of years."

He said people living in Llanelli, where there are already three private-only practices, would now have to travel to Swansea or Carmarthen if they either did not want to or could not afford to go private.

"People are now having to pay as they go or take out private insurance cover."

Mr Morris said the Welsh assembly had made grants available to try and encourage new NHS dentists to set-up in west Wales but without much success.