Jackie Baillie has raised the alarm over a ‘growing crisis’ in dental care, as statistics show that thousands of Scots in the most deprived areas, including those within the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde region, have not seen a dentist in over two years.

Statistics published by Public Health Scotland have revealed that less than half (45.1 percent) of adults from the most deprived areas have seen an NHS dentist over the last two years. Over half (56.4 percent) of adults from the least deprived areas have been treated in that time period.

The clear inequalities are only starker in terms of children, with only 55.3 percent of children from the most deprived areas being seen by a dentist over the last two years compared to 73.1 percent of children from the least deprived areas.

This yawning inequality has grown against the backdrop of a colossal drop in the number of registered patients seen by NHS dentists in the last two years when compared to before the pandemic (30 September 2019).

It has previously been estimated that around 3.5 million NHS dental appointments have been lost in Scotland since the first lockdown, driven by ongoing restrictions placed by the Scottish Government on dentists.

In NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, which covers West Dunbartonshire, less than half of adults had seen a dentist in the two years prior to September last year. The figure has been steadily falling over the past decade. In September 2011, this stood at 79.3 percent of adults.

The trend is replicated in children with 61.7 percent having seen a dentist within two years at September last year. This had fallen from 82.8 percent in September 2019.

With NHS dentists under increasing pressure, Scottish Labour has said that it is clear that the SNP has failed to restart dental care in Scotland and has presided over a shocking rise in dental inequality.

Dumbarton constituency MSP Jackie Baillie spoke during a debate on the dental crisis in parliament last week in which she reported how people were being asked to pay a deposit for treatment.

She is concerned that privatisation of dental care by the back door is going to result in people from more deprived areas, like West Dunbartonshire, being unable to afford treatment.

She said: “It is now clear that the SNP’s catastrophic failure to support Scottish NHS dentists has led to a shocking rise in dental inequality which is impacting on people locally.

“We know already that the very existence of NHS dentistry in Scotland is on the line, with the current funding model leading to privatisation by the back door, but now we have the proof that thousands of Scots have not been seen by dentists for years.

“That those from poorer backgrounds including people in my Dumbarton constituency, particularly children, are less likely to have received treatment is nothing short of a national disgrace.

“This cannot be allowed to continue.

“Humza Yousaf must wake up to the crisis facing NHS dentistry before it reaches the point of no return.

“Dental care in Scotland cannot be allowed to become the privilege of the few who can afford to go private.”