A recent report has highlighted an acute shortage of dentists in Scotland. It states that 80,000 people are without an NHS Dentist.

It is the Highland area of Scotland that has the most acute shortages in regards to lack of dentists per population head. It is this region and regions throughout the UK that past and present Governments have systematically failed to address.
Liberal Democrat health spokesman Ross Finnie MSP said:
“Too many people are still waiting to register with an NHS dentist. This is unacceptable and the situation is particularly bad in rural areas like the Borders, Fife, Grampian and the Highlands and Islands — all of which are way below the target of registering 80 per cent of three to five-year-olds with an NHS dentist by 2010 to 2011.”

Andrew Lamb, the BDA’s director for Scotland, said: “It is well recognised that access to dental care remains a problem in Scotland, particularly in rural and remote areas. If this problem is to be addressed, the Scottish government must engage with dentists and listen to their concerns.”

One of the biggest problems is that Dentists are choosing to work in the better paid Private Dentistry, sector. Many would say, ‘who can blame them’. The government needs clearly to increase pay to NHS Dentists to level the playing field.

Public health minister Shona Robison said: “We’re increasing the number of NHS dentists and registering more patients with an NHS dentist. But although we’re investing substantially in NHS dentistry, we do know there are still problems with access in some areas and we continue to tackle this.

“We are developing outreach training centres throughout Scotland, including Aberdeen, Inverness, and Dumfries and Galloway, and health boards now have the authority to appoint directly salaried dentists. We are increasing the numbers of dental students and opened a third dental school in Aberdeen last year, which will further increase numbers.”

Mary Scanlon MSP, Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health & Wellbeing, said: “The crisis in dentistry brings shame on Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the SNP.
Since 2000, the situation has got worse for children and for adults. There were 50,000 fewer children registered with a dentist in 2007, compared to 1999.
Bottom line is this is a huge failing for the Scottish National Party also. Fact is, people pay for their dental treatment through their taxes. Where is the service. The next government to come into office must address this problem.
Thankfully some medical and dental recruitment agencies are pro-actively encouraging overseas dentists to come to the UK to work as dentists. Therefore bridging the gap in UK Dentistry.