Only one in five Scots said the government is doing all it reasonably can about dentistry when polled, while 65% thought it should do more.
More than in seven Scots (15%) said that dentistry was the most important issue in the country, placing it at a similar priority level to crime at 16%.
Estimated unmet dental need in Scotland now stands at one fifth of the adult population. Roughly 12% said they had been unable to secure a dental appointment in the past two years with 7% having given up trying as they assumed they would be unable to get one.
The British Dental Association (BDA) encouraged the government and opposition to double down on prevention and adopt policies to encourage families to make healthier choices. It also said practices should be protected from rising costs, including increases to national insurance from the UK government which have been mitigated in Northern Ireland but not Scotland.
Scots facing ‘postcode lotteries of care’
Albert Yeung, chair of the BDA Scottish Council, said: ‘If we want NHS dentistry in Scotland to remain a going concern in the 21st century, it will require a sustained plan of action.
‘It means closing an oral health gap between rich and poor that’s already widening. To call time on postcode lotteries of care that remain the norm. It requires the next government to ensure we have the dental team members we need on the frontline. And it means doubling down on prevention. This country can’t rest on its laurels when decay remains the number one reason for hospital admissions among young children.
‘The public are clear: the next Scottish Government needs to go further, and faster. We must future-proof dentistry in Scotland, because failure to do so will come at a steep financial, human and ultimately a political cost. This is already an issue on the doorstep. It will remain one until voters see real change.’
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