Over the past five years, Scotland has seen a 109% increase in the number of children hospitalised with advanced tooth decay. Experts warn of a growing dental care crisis in Inverclyde, now described as a “dental desert” due to a shortage of NHS dentists.
-
Hospitalisations up 109% for children with severe tooth decay in the last five years in Scotland.
-
Inverclyde’s dental desert – local NHS practices closing and refusing new patients.
-
Government response – funding new dental practices via the Scottish Dental Access Initiative.
-
Record funding – over £500 million allocated to primary dental care in 2025.
Childhood Tooth Decay – A Growing Public Health Challenge in Scotland
Recent figures reveal a dramatic 109% increase in child hospital admissions due to complications from untreated tooth decay across Scotland. The problem is particularly acute in Inverclyde, where access to NHS dental services has sharply declined.
Inverclyde – Scotland’s “Dental Desert”
Local dental practices have closed or stopped accepting new NHS patients, forcing residents to travel outside the region for care. According to Martin McCluskey, Labour MP in the UK Parliament, this crisis threatens to undo years of progress in improving children’s oral health.
“Residents know all too well how hard it is to find a dentist. The Scottish Government is failing on dental care, and all the progress made could be lost,” McCluskey said.
Emergency Measures and New Practice Openings
To address the crisis, the Scottish Government has launched funding schemes to encourage dental clinics to open in underserved areas. In Inverclyde, a new practice has been approved for Waterfront Retail Park, funded under the Scottish Dental Access Initiative (SDAI).
The SDAI aims to support investments in new facilities and improve urgent dental care access.
Record-Breaking Funding for Dental Services
In 2025, funding for primary dental care in Scotland increased by nearly 15%, surpassing £500 million for the first time. Of this, up to £3 million is earmarked for improving access to dentists and strengthening dental workforce capacity.
Implications for Healthcare Professionals
The steep rise in child hospitalisations due to dental decay is a red flag for public health systems. The data highlights the urgent need to:
-
Intensify preventive dentistry programmes.
-
Expand NHS dental service capacity in underserved areas.
-
Strengthen parental oral health education.
-
Act quickly to prevent service closures in high-need regions.
