Young people now eligible for free dental treatment in Scotland
New guidelines have come into force in Scotland, enabling young people to access dental treatment free of charge.
Under new measures introduced by the Scottish Government, under 26s will now be able to have dental treatment on the NHS for free. The move is part of a funding boost, which includes over £7.5 million to buy new equipment to aid recovery following the pandemic.
The new guidelines cover people aged 18-25, as well as patients who started a course of treatment before their 26th birthday. There is no requirement to opt-in to benefit from the initiative, which is now live.
As well as improving access to free dental care for NHS patients, Scottish ministers are also using additional funds made available for the dental sector to purchase new drills.
Dentists will be able to use drills, which do not produce as much aerosol as standard dental drills, to reduce the risk of contracting and spreading Covid-19. The investment is an addition to a pot worth £5 million provided for practices to improve ventilation.
Health secretary, Humza Yousaf, said that the government is aiming to scrap dental fees for everyone in Scotland and eliminating charges for under 26s is the first step towards this goal. The announcement means that around 600,000 young adults will benefit from free NHS dental treatment from the 24th August.
In a statement outlining the changes for young people in Scotland, Mr Yousaf also took the opportunity to thank dental teams working across the country to keep services running, praising their “outstanding efforts.”
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