4 in 10 Scots go without recent dentist check-up

Scottish Liberal Democrat Leader and Health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has accused the SNP of causing “agony” for patients and staff as he revealed that almost 40% of those registered with a dentist have not seen one in the past two years.

Figures published by Public Health Scotland show that as at the end of September 2025:

• 2,006,527 of the 5,237,252 Scots registered with a dentist have not seen one in the last two years.
• This means 39% of all those registered have not seen a dentist in the previous two years.

Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

“When I’m out speaking to people across the country, I hear horror stories of how they can’t get an appointment or how dental deserts mean there are no NHS dentists for miles. Some have even purchased tools online to do the job themselves. The SNP's neglect of NHS dentistry is causing agony for patients and staff alike.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats have a long history of delivering for NHS dentistry. We were instrumental in introducing free NHS dental checkups, pressed for a dental school to address the shortage of dentists in remote and rural areas, and secured money this year to add more dentist training places.

“Patients and staff all deserve better than almost two decades of SNP decay. Scottish Liberal Democrats have a realistic plan to deliver the change they need with fairness at its heart. That includes ending dental deserts, prioritising workforce planning and boosting the number of dentists taking on NHS patients.”