Dental patient registration rates soar in Shetland
The latest NHS figures show that dental patient registrations rates have soared in Shetland.
In the last 12 years, the proportion of patients registered with an NHS dentist on the island has increased dramatically, with a surge of adults and children joining local practices. Adult numbers have rocketed by 138% while the proportion of children has increased by 99%.
SNP Highlands and Islands MSP, Maree Todd, has attributed the increases to investment in dental services and the introduction of measures and schemes designed to improve registration rates and standards of oral health. According to Ms Todd, the party has worked tirelessly to improve dental health across Scotland and to target areas where rates of decay were high and registration rates were low.
Despite the positive news, Ms Todd stressed that there is still a way to go, and urged anyone who doesn’t currently have an NHS dentist to explore local services and find out more about the kinds of treatments that can be provided by Shetland practices. The aim is for everyone who wants to see an NHS dentist to be able to do so, and details of available places are accessible online via the NHS Choices website.
Regular dental checks are recommended for adults and children, with the Oral Health Foundation suggesting that children visit every 6 months, and adults see their dentist every 6-12 months. Routine check-ups can lower the risk of decay by up to 60% and they also enable dentists to look out for early signs of conditions such as mouth cancer.
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