Dental Deserts Deepen in Brittany: Finding a Dentist in Bigouden countryโข Increasinglyโฃ Arduous
Pont-l’Abbรฉ, France โ – Residents of the Bigouden country in Brittany are facing a growing crisis โคin access to dental care, with many โฃpractices closed to newโ patients and long wait times reported across the region. A recent investigation by Le Tรฉlรฉgramme reveals a scarcity of available appointments, despite efforts to attract dentists to the area.
As of Septemberโค 19, attemptsโ to contact fifteen dental firms โฃrepresenting around thirty professionals were largely unsuccessful, with many directing potential patients to leave contact information for possible future recall. Several practices explicitly โคstate โon their โanswering machines they are unable to accept new patients, and no openingsโฃ were found on the Doctolib online appointment platform.
While some dentists continue to attempt to accommodate new patients “punctually,” such as the office on rue de Ty Lez in combrit, their schedules are full. Others, like the practice in penmarc’h, will onlyโข contact new patients “according to our availability,” and the dentist in Loctudy accepts new patients “when possible.”
Though, there are glimmers of hope. The dental practice in the Kerlavar craft zone in Plonรฉour-Lanvern confirms they are currently accepting new patients. Furthermore, a new 250 square meter dental center is planned โfor โขGuilvinec, slated to open before the summer of 2026, featuring three care rooms, a surgical room, aโ waiting room, and apartments for practitioners.
The situationโ remains precarious, however, as three Bigouden country dentists are planningโ to relocate their practices to Bรฉnodet’s Glรฉnan โactivity park in the medium term, potentially exacerbating the existing shortage. Training new dentists takes at least six years, according to sources, and many recent graduates continue to practice in larger metropolitan areas. Between 390 โฃand 440 โคdentists are expected to be โคtrained in Brittany by 2025.