Scotland Dental Crisis: Millions Missing Regular Check-ups

UK: Recent data from Public Health Scotland has revealed a significant dental healthcare challenge in Scotland, as reported by Georgia Edkins in the Daily Mail. According to the report, approximately two million adults and 200,000 children registered with dental practices have not had a check-up in the past two years, representing about 40% of registered patients.

Long-term Impact on Oral Health

The situation appears even more concerning when examining longer-term data. The report indicates that more than 80,000 children and over a quarter of adults haven’t visited a dentist in five years. Additionally, over half a million adults have gone without dental check-ups or treatment for the past decade.

Children’s Oral Health at Risk

The National Dental Inspection Programme has identified significant concerns regarding children’s dental health. Their study revealed that 22.4% of Scottish children in their first year of school are dealing with untreated decay, highlighting the immediate impact of reduced access to dental care.

Political Response and Concerns

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has expressed serious concerns about the situation, stating: “These figures are proof that being registered with a dentist is no measure of accessibility. An astonishing number of children and adults haven’t had recent dental check-ups or appointments.”

Professional Perspective

The British Dental Association’s Scottish dental practice committee has also weighed in on the matter. Committee chairman David McColl noted: “The Scottish Government likes to talk about registration when what really matters is participation. Scotland faces widening oral health inequalities.”

Current State of Dental Services

The report highlights that between 2019 and 2024, the number of NHS dentists in Scotland decreased from 3,407 to 3,240. Six council areas have been identified as ‘dental deserts,’ including Argyll and Bute, Dumfries and Galloway, Inverclyde, Orkney, Perth and Kinross, and Shetland, where new adult NHS patients face significant waiting times.

Government Response

In response to these concerns, a Scottish Government spokesperson has emphasized that “Almost 95 per cent of the population are registered with an NHS dentist and 60 per cent of those have seen a dentist in the last two years.”

Emergency Care Impact

The dental crisis has led to increased pressure on emergency services. Between April 2021 and June 2024, 11,783 people calling the NHS24 hotline were directed to A&E departments for dental pain treatment, indicating the spillover effect on other healthcare services.