Scottish dental leaders issue stark warning over growing backlog
Dental leaders in Scotland have issued stark warnings over the future of dentistry, as backlogs continue to grow.
The latest statistics from Public Health Scotland suggest that dentists carried out over 858,000 fewer treatments between 2020 and 2022 in comparison to the 24-month period leading up to the start of the pandemic.
Data also suggests that inequalities have deepened, with patients in more affluent areas more likely to have seen a dentist during the pandemic than those from poorer communities.
Closures during the first lockdown and restrictions designed to limit the spread of Covid-19 have hampered practices and dramatically reduced the number of patients dentists can see. As a result, practices now have huge backlogs, particularly in routine services. Many people who could have potentially had relatively simple treatment are now facing the prospect of needing more complex, expensive procedures because they haven’t been able to see a dentist.
David McColl, chair of the Scottish Dental Practice Committee, said that dentists are still prioritising urgent cases and following strict infection control and social distancing protocols, which is causing backlogs to grow. He called for the government to act to enable clinics to see more patients and provide more support for practices.
Patients all over the UK are struggling in the aftermath of the pandemic, with many facing a wait for treatment or a bill to pay for private dental care.
Denise Hesketh, from Edinburgh, has experienced significant dental issues in the past, which have got worse during the pandemic.
She hasn’t been able to see an NHS dentist in the last two years and has been quoted £20,000 for private treatment. Denise’s story is similar to that of many patients who needed treatment earlier in the pandemic and were unable to access it.
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