A TOWN Hall call is to be made over the crisis in dental treatment.

It follows an Examiner exclusive story how no surgeries in Huddersfield were taking on NHS patients.

Now a demand is being made for Kirklees Council to send a protest to Government ministers.

They will be told that everyone should have access to NHS dental treatment if they want it.

The call will be made at a meeting of the full council on December 8.

Clr Dennis Hullock, a Liberal Democrat Cabinet member, said: "Despite a pledge in 1999 that everyone would have access to an NHS dentist within two years, the Government has been slow to take action."

He revealed he was starting a petition with the help of Nisar Choudhary, who has had trouble getting NHS treatment.

Talking about his Dewsbury ward, he said: "In March 2005 it was estimated that 31% of the adult and children residents in North Kirklees were listed with an NHS dentist, while 23% were privately registered.

"This means that 46% of all the residents living in North Kirklees potentially have no established or regular dental care provision."

A recent study has shown that five-year-olds living in North Kirklees have the second worst teeth in the whole of the UK, with each child's mouth containing almost four missing or decaying teeth.

Clr Hullock said: "A parent or guardian who can't access an NHS dentist or afford to go private will probably allow their own dental care to lapse.

"This would mean they will probably attach less importance to the dental health of their children."

He appealed for people supporting the petition to write to him at FREEPOST HF 2401, Huddersfield, HD5 0BR.

THE NHS Direct website yesterday listed seven practices in the Huddersfield area taking on new NHS patients and one taking on children.

There are 45 dentists on the list.

But when we contacted the ones which claimed to be open for new patients we found none were currently registering patients.

They were:

* Dalton Dental Practice, Broad Lane - not taking new NHS patients until January.

* JC and A Rayner Dental Practice, Bradford Road, Fartown - not taking new NHS patients.

* AD and AD Manzoor, New North Road, Edgerton - not taking new NHS patients. Six to eight-month waiting list.

* Netherton Dental Practice, Meltham Road - not taking new NHS patients.

* Alison Eden's Dental Surgery, Highgate Lane, Lepton - not taking new NHS patients.

* Park View Dental Surgery, Trinity Street, Huddersfield - not taking new NHS patients, but offered to put me on a waiting list for at least eight months.

* Skelmanthorpe Dental Practice, Huddersfield Road - not taking new NHS patients.

* Bankfield Lane, Kirkheaton - unable to contact it as the surgery was closed.