The British Dental Association Scotland has stated its concern that the ‘record breaking’ increases in dental registration rates in Scotland are hiding a long-term decline in patient participation.
Figures from ISD Scotland have revealed that more than nine out of 10 people are now registered with a dentist. However, only 72% of the 4,852,693 people currently registered in March 2016 have seen an NHS dentist within the last two years.
Participation rates have been in long-term decline since changes to registration rules in 2007, when 99% of the 2.5 million patients who were registered had contact with their dentist. Rates have fallen year on year from 2007 to 2016, dropping from 98.6% to 69% among adults, and from 99.9% to 89% among children.
The figures also show that for the first time there is no difference in registration rates between children living in the most and least deprived areas, although rates of participation continue to vary sharply between communities.
ISD Scotland has called for the Scottish Government to do more to increase participation among adults in deprived areas, particularly to help prevent the rise of oral cancer. Oral cancer incidence in Scotland among men and women is currently at 16.8 per 100,000, compared with 12.4 in England and 11.9 in Northern Ireland, and cases are clustered in areas of high deprivation.
Robert Donald, Chair of the BDA’s Scottish Dental Practice Committee said: “These record-breaking registration rates mask a long-term decline in participation among patients. The reality is while many people in deprived communities are getting on the books, they are not making it to the dentist’s chair.
“We know Scotland has a lot to be proud of when it comes to fighting decay, particularly the big gains we’ve seen through ChildSmile. Now we need real effort from Government to ensure adults are seeking the regular care they need.”