The data collated by YouGov involving 1,075 adults aged 16 and over found that 12% of adults said they had been unable to secure an NHS dental appointment in the past two years, while a further 7% said they had not attempted to book because they assumed they would be unable to get one.

The polling conducted online between 2 and 10 February also indicates widespread dissatisfaction with the Scottish Government’s handling of the issue.

READ MORE:

Nearly two-thirds (65%) of respondents said ministers should be doing more to improve NHS dentistry, compared with 20% who believe the government is doing all it reasonably can.

Dentistry is emerging as a significant local political issue, with 15% of respondents ranking local dental services among the most important concerns in their area – roughly on par with crime (16%).

In the poll, health in general was ranked second top issue people viewed as the most important – with 46% mentioning it as a concern behind immigration on 32%. The economy and the cost of living was the most important, with 72% of those polled mentioning it as a top priority.

The findings come as the BDA urges political parties to commit to “future proofing” NHS dentistry in Scotland. The professional body has published a manifesto calling on the next Scottish Government to take further action to improve access to care and tackle widening oral health inequalities.

Although the current administration introduced reforms to NHS dental payments in 2023, the BDA argues the changes should not be seen as the end of the process.

The association says further measures are needed, including a fully funded workforce plan to expand the dental workforce, greater emphasis on prevention, and expanded support for the Childsmile programme, which aims to improve children’s oral health.

The group has also called for financial protections for dental practices facing rising costs, including increases in National Insurance contributions introduced by the UK Government that have already been mitigated in Northern Ireland but not in Scotland.

Albert Yeung, chair of the BDA’s Scottish Council, said the sustainability of NHS dentistry now depends on decisive government action.

He 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.”

The BDA also highlighted evidence of widening inequalities in oral health across Scotland.

According to the latest National Dental Inspection Programme report, just 68.2% of Primary 7 children in the most deprived communities were free from tooth decay, compared with 91.5% in the least deprived areas – a gap that has widened since 2019.

Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said: “Dentistry is an absolute priority for this government – that is why we implemented significant reform in 2023 to incentivise dentists to deliver more NHS care and continue to invest over half a billion pounds into the sector. Our 2026-27 Budget shows a nearly 40% increase in funding, on a cash-basis, over the life of this Parliament.

“This significant and continued investment in NHS dentistry is delivering for the people of Scotland and supporting high volumes of patient access to NHS care.

“We have delivered almost 1.1 million courses of NHS dental treatment in the latest quarter – with 96% of the Scottish population registered with an NHS dentist.”