More than one third (34%) of Scottish adults reported having difficulties when visiting the dentist according to the government, the highest proportion since 2009.
The most common problems were getting a suitable appointment (12%), treatment being too expensive (10%) and not getting treatment under the NHS (7%). The total number of patients reporting problems has increased from 23% in 2021 and 20% in 2019. It has now reached its highest level since 2009, when the figure stood at 35%.
In 2023, 63% of adults had visited the dentist within the past year. This figure was higher in females at 66% compared to 58% in males.
Adults aged 45-64 were most likely to have visited the dentist within a year (67-69%) while those aged 16-24 were least likely (54%). Those aged 75 and over were most likely to have last visited the dentist more than five years ago (18%).
Just under three quarters (72%) of those who had visited the dentist in the past five years were treated on the NHS. Young adults aged 16-24 were the most likely to have received only NHS care (82%) and least likely to report using only private care (14%). Those aged 25-34 showed the opposite, with 66% receiving only NHS care and 28% receiving only private treatment.
Overall wellbeing
The data was collected as part of the recently released Scottish Health Survey 2023. Dental health is one of several areas of focus designed to give a picture of the overall health of the Scottish population.
When asked about general wellbeing, 72% of adults said their health was good or very good. This is at the lower end of the 70-77% range recorded since 2008. A large majority of children were considered in good or very good health (94%), similarly to previous data of 93-96%.
Females were more likely to report living with a long-term condition than men – 43% compared to 32%. This difference was most pronounced in the 45-54 age group, at 45% and 29% respectively.
The survey results show an improvement in mental health compared to pandemic era data. Measured on the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS), average mental wellbeing increased to 48.9 from 47.0 in 2022. However this is still below the pre-pandemic average of 49.8 in 2019.
Despite this improvement, one in 10 adults still reported feeling lonely most or all of the time. This rose to 19% in the 16-24 age group.
Highest levels of food insecurity since reporting began
The survey also considered the population’s relationship with harmful substances such as alcohol and vapes. Prevalence of hazardous or harmful drinking has reduced by 14% in the past data, falling to 20% from 34% in 2003. Males were twice as likely to drink to harmful levels than females, at 28% compared to 14%.
The data showed a continued rise in vaping, particularly in younger age groups. Young adults aged 16-24 who were the most likely to have started vaping as an aid to quit smoking (44% compared to 3% in those aged 75 or over). Levels of vaping increased with levels of deprivation, increasing from 6% in the least deprived areas to 17% in the most deprived.
The report also found a significant increase in levels of food insecurity, which stood at 14%. This had increased from 9% in 2021 and represents the highest level since the survey began.
Two thirds of adult respondents (66%) reported being overweight, including 32% who were obese. Around 17% of children were at risk of obesity, a figure which has remained between 13% and 18% since 1998.
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