New figures reveal 99% of people in Greater Glasgow and Clyde are now registered with a dentist
New figures have revealed that 99% of people in Greater Glasgow and Clyde are now registered with a dentist.
The statistics from the Information Services Department show a dramatic improvement in uptake and registration rates across the region. Although rates were relatively low at 52.5% for children under 2, figures were significantly higher for all other age groups.
In 2000, around 40% of adults in the area were registered with a dentist. This figure has climbed to almost 100% in the last 20 years. Across Scotland, there have been widespread improvements, with the proportion of adults registered with a dentist now at 95.7%. The figures also revealed that registration rates were highest in deprived areas (99.3%).
The improvements come on the back of substantial investment by the Scottish Government over the past decade and measures and programmes introduced by the NHS to target deprived areas, improve education and increase awareness of NHS dental services.
Joe FitzPatrick, Public Health Minister, said that improving oral health was a priority and it was important to ensure that people understand what kinds of NHS services are available to them and how they can access them. Since 2007, registration rates have doubled and more people are benefiting from NHS dental care than ever before. The figures are not inclusive of private clinic patients.
Despite the positive news, there is still room for improvement, most notably in uptake rates. Statistics show that 30% of adults haven’t seen a dentist in the last two years, despite professionals recommending 6-12 monthly checks.
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