New data has shown that the oral health gap in Scotland shows no sign of improvement, with dental health inequalities persisting.
This comes after the latest report of the National Dental Inspection Programme was published last week.
The report shows that only 68.1% of 10 to 11 year olds in the tenth most deprived areas were found to be decay free. This is compared to 89.7% in the tenth least deprived – a gap of 21.6%. This gap has increased from 20.1% in 2019.
In addition, 71.9% of 10 to 11 year olds living in the most deprived areas have no obvious decay experience. This is compared to 88.0% in the least deprived areas.
Despite this, there has been some improvement. For example, 49.9% of 10 to 11 year olds in the most deprived areas in 2009 had no obvious decay experience, compared to 76.2% in the least deprived.
‘No room for complacency’
The British Dental Association (BDA) believes the report shows that ‘stark and persistent inequalities are widening’. As a result, it has warned that ‘decades of progress on children’s dental health risk going into reverse’.
David McColl is chair of the BDA’s Scottish Dental Practice Committee. He said: ‘Our children are paying the price for the crisis in NHS dentistry hard won gains are going into reverse.
‘Certainly, there is no room complacency at Holyrood. The oral health gap between rich and poor shows little sign of closing.
‘It remains to be seen if coming reforms will be enough to bring this service back from the brink. The Scottish government cannot pretend it is “mission accomplished” for NHS dentistry.’
‘End this scandal’
This comes after a member of the Scottish parliament (MSP) warned that dentistry in Scotland is in chaos.
Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton constituency MSP and deputy leader of the Scottish Labour Party, said ‘We are in the grip of a dentistry crisis and the decline of NHS services is leading to soaring waits for surgery.
‘I have had constituents from across Dumbarton, the Vale of Leven, Helensburgh and Lomond struggling to get registered with a dentist and even access basic care.
‘This decline of NHS dentistry is piling pressure on over-stretched hospitals and leaving oral health to deteriorate. The SNP must end this scandal by supporting local NHS dentistry services and tackling the chaos in our hospitals.’
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