The number of adults registered with NHS dentists has increased by more than 200% throughout the north and north-east.
Since the SNP rose to power in Holyrood in 2007, the number of adults registered with an NHS dentist in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, the Highlands, Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles has gone up by 208%.
In the same areas and during the same period, the number of registered children increased by 59%.
Although Stewart Stevenson, the SNP’s Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP welcomed the figures last night, opponents argued they do not show the number of people “actually attending the dentist”.
The sharpest increase of registered adults was in Moray, where there were 317% more in 2019 than in 2007, while the biggest increase for children was 124% in the Western Isles.
In Aberdeenshire, the number of adults signed up to NHS dentists went up by 142% with the figure at a 50% increase for children.
Mr Stevenson said: “This Scottish government has taken huge strides in improving the oral health of people in Aberdeenshire and across Scotland.
“Since the SNP came to power, efforts to increase the number of people receiving regular dental check-ups is paying off, with the number of adults registered nearly doubled locally across scotland.
“It’s only a few years since the shortage of NHS dentists in Aberdeenshire was a big issue for families locally and we had queues of people outside dental surgeries trying to register, so the progress we’ve made is to be warmly welcomed.
“Of course, there’s always room for improvement, and I hope to see even more people in the north-east ensuring they are able to access a local NHS dentist.”
A spokesman for NHS Grampian added: “Registrations with NHS dentists have risen significantly for both adults and children in recent years and this is to be welcomed.
“Our staff have worked hard to promote registration with dentists, including TV advertising campaigns, to ensure people are aware they can receive NHS dental care.”
But last night North East Tory MSP Peter Chapman claimed the figures did not accurately record how many people were going for regular check-ups.
He said: “The British Dental Association has described these figures as meaningless and spin, and that’s because they don’t show the number of patients who are actually attending the dentist.
“The Scottish Government is claiming this as a success, but experts have said the gap between those who can and can’t attend appointments has never been bigger.
“It’s vital people receive the adequate care they need when something occurs, and everything must be done to ensure this.”
