The dental profession is calling on the Scottish government to act fast and fix the ‘broken system’ that is fuelling inequalities in NHS dentistry.
Figures from Public Health Scotland show participation rates – meaning contact with a dentist within the past two years – continue to fall.
In September 2022, only 50.4% of all registered patients had seen an NHS dentist within the last two years. This is down on the 52.6% seen in 2021, and a considerable reduction from almost two thirds (65.1%) in 2020.
Record inequalities
The participation rate among registered children was higher than for adults (65.7% compared to 47.2%).
The BDA point out that the gap between the most and least deprived areas in Scotland continues to grow, with the new data showing record inequalities in participation rates.
In September 2008, the gap in child participation between the most and least deprived areas was three percentage points. But this increased to 7% points by 2010, and 18% points (55.3% compared to 73.1%) in September 2021. Now, the figure stands at 20% (55.9% compared with 75.8%).
The BDA warns that lower levels of participation will translate into a higher dental disease burden – with oral health inequalities expected to widen.
This follows limited access to services, the temporary suspension of public health programmes, and the impact of lockdown diets.
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‘Real reform won’t wait’
David McColl is chair of the British Dental Association’s Scottish Dental Practice Committee. He said: ‘Patients in Scotland’s poorest communities are paying the price for the crisis in dentistry.
‘The Scottish Government must not try to hide behind positive sounding registration figures. The reality is patient participation remains on the floor, and inequalities are set to widen.
‘Dentists are reconsidering their futures working in a broken system. NHS dentistry is on the critical list, and real reform won’t wait.’
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