Michael McGimpsey revealed that his officials are set to tender the UK private sector to provide affordable care.

Despite having the highest number of dentists per head of the population in the UK, Northern Ireland has the worst standard of oral hygiene.

One of the primary reasons for this is that so many dentists choose to work in the private sector, leaving low-income patients with few options.

Mr McGimpsey said the situation was particularly acute in the west of the region.

He revealed that the department had approved the recruitment of six salaried NHS dentists in Fermanagh but had yet to fill one of those posts.

The minister said he was prepared to hire outside of Northern Ireland to try to increase service provision.

"We have had to look at yet other means of making dental services available," he told the Assembly.

"I have approved a tender for dental services from the independent sector."

The South Belfast MLA said England, Scotland and Wales had adopted similar strategies to get more NHS dental care.

"While there is a limited capacity among our high street dentists to provide additional services I know there are other interested parties operating in other parts of the UK which represent a potential supply of additional work force," he said.

Mr McGimpsey made the announcement during an Assembly debate on access to dental treatment tabled by Sinn Fein.

Health Committee vice chair Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Fein, Mid Ulster) said people in rural areas were suffering particularly badly from the lack of NHS dentists.

"The current situation in respect of dentist services is utterly unacceptable — at present there are people who cannot locate a dentist in their area that is able or willing to provide treatment as an NHS patient," she said.