The number of people in Scotland registered with an NHS dentist has reached its highest ever level, according to new Information Services Division (ISD) figures.

Reporting a 19 per cent rise in adults and an increase of 12 per cent in children registered with an NHS dentist compared to the same period last year, registration has reached its greatest level since records began in 1990.

The figures report that at the end of June 2008 55.4 per cent of adults (2.3 million) were registered with an NHS dentist, while 75.6 per cent of children (794,000) were registered.

Commenting on the new stats, Public Health Minister Shona Robison said: "The figures are a further demonstration of our determination to bring NHS dentistry within reach of as many people as possible.

"Other recent figures showed that the number of NHS dentists in Scotland increased 4.1 per cent in the year up to the end of March 2008 and I expect that growth to continue."

She suggested that increasing the number of NHS dentists was "key" to expanding access.

Referring to the new £21 million Aberdeen Dental School and the Scottish Government's £75 million investment in capital projects over the next two years, Robison stated her belief that "we are turning a corner and reversing the long-term decline in NHS dentistry".
 
"Nevertheless, there are still parts of Scotland where registrations are unacceptably low and I will expect all NHS Boards to continue putting plans in place to further improve access for their populations," she added.