Number of NHS dentists will meet rise in demand, report predicts
Increasing demand for NHS dental services will be more than matched by a rise in the number of dentists over the next decade, according to a new report.
Increasing demand for NHS dental services will be more than matched by a rise in the number of dentists over the next decade, according to a new report.
While factors such as the ageing population are expected to contribute to rising demand, it is anticipated this will be outweighed by dentists entering or re-entering NHS practice.
The dental workforce report looks at past trends to forecast the need for dentists and dental services in the future.
It found NHS registration rates have continued to rise, reaching record levels in September 2015.
Data also shows people are visiting a dentist more frequently and are more likely to see an NHS dentist when they do.
In September 2015, there were 4,780,901 registered patients and 3,142 NHS dentists.
The number of registered patients per dentist was 1,521.61.
The report found the supply of dentists over the next 10 years is forecast to exceed the number required to maintain current registration rates.
David Felix, director of dentistry at NHS Education for Scotland, said: "We work with our partners to ensure that Scotland has the right numbers of dentists to deliver high-quality NHS treatment for everyone who wants it, in line with the Government's 2020 Vision.
"These forecasts indicate that the capacity of the system to deliver dental services to the people of Scotland is greater than ever before and is forecast to increase in the future."