Voters are looking to the next Scottish Government to go further and faster to guarantee the future of NHS dentistry.
New polling from YouGov shows [1]:
- Taking into account all the different priorities facing the country, 65% of Scots say the Scottish Government should be doing more on dentistry. Only 20% believe they are doing all they reasonably can.
- Dentistry is now a major doorstep issue in Scotland, with 15% ranking it as the most important issue in their local area, on a par with crime (16%).
- Estimated unmet need for NHS dentistry stands at nearly 1/5 of Scotland’s adult population, with 12% saying they were unable to secure an appointment in the last 2 years, and a further 7% having effectively given up trying, assuming they would be unable to get one.
The BDA has published its own manifesto stressing a new administration must act to ‘future proof’ the service. While the current Scottish Government took forward payment reform of NHS dentistry in 2023, the professional body say this cannot be viewed as ‘mission accomplished’. It stresses that concerted action is required to improve access and reduce inequalities that are already widening [2] and create the dental workforce Scotland needs via a fully funded workforce plan.
The BDA is encouraging parties to double down on prevention, expand the pioneering Childsmile programme, and adopt policies to encourage families to make healthier choices. It says practices need to be protected from surging costs, including rises in National Insurance from the UK Government which have already been mitigated in Northern Ireland, but not in Scotland.
Albert Yeung, Chair of the British Dental Association's Scottish Council, said:
“If we want NHS dentistry in Scotland to remain a going concern in the 21st century, it will require a sustained plan of action.
“It means closing an oral health gap between rich and poor that’s already widening. To call time on postcode lotteries of care that remain the norm.
“It requires the next government to ensure we have the dental team members we need on the frontline.
“And it means doubling down on prevention. This country can’t rest on its laurels when decay remains the number one reason for hospital admissions among young children.
“The public are clear the next Scottish Government needs to go further, and faster. We must future-proof dentistry in Scotland, because failure to do so will come at a steep financial, human and ultimately a political cost.
“This is already an issue on the doorstep. It will remain one until voters see real change.”
Notes to editors:
[1] All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1,075 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 2nd - 10th February 2026. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all adults in Scotland (aged 16+).
Which of the following, if any, do you think are the most important issues facing Scotland at this time? Please tick up to three.
| Issue | % |
|---|---|
| The economy/cost of living | 72 |
| Health | 46 |
| Immigration & Asylum | 32 |
| Housing | 21 |
| Education | 18 |
| Britain leaving the EU | 17 |
| The environment and climate change | 15 |
| Crime | 15 |
| Tax | 14 |
| Welfare benefits | 12 |
| Defence and security | 6 |
| Family life & childcare | 5 |
| Pensions | 5 |
| Transport | 3 |
| None of these | 0 |
| Don't know | 2 |
Which of the following, if any, do you think are the most important issues facing your local area at this time? Please tick up to three.
| Issue | % |
|---|---|
| Road maintenance | 46 |
| Local GP services | 33 |
| Affordable housing | 32 |
| Job opportunities | 25 |
| High street shops | 23 |
| Schools and Education | 20 |
| Crime | 16 |
| Local dentistry services | 15 |
| Public transport | 13 |
| Waste and Recycling | 12 |
| Homelessness | 6 |
| Parks and green spaces | 4 |
| Local sports and entertainment | 3 |
| Noise levels | 2 |
| None of these | 3 |
| Don't know | 4 |
Taking into account all the different priorities facing the country, do you think the Scottish Government should be doing more to improve NHS dentistry in Scotland, or are they doing all they reasonably can?
| Option | % |
|---|---|
| Should be doing more | 65 |
| Are doing all they reasonably can | 20 |
| Don't know | 16 |
Have you tried to make an appointment with an NHS dentist in Scotland in the last two years? If you have tried more than once, please think about the most recent time.
| Option | % |
|---|---|
| Yes, and I was able to get the appointment I needed | 55 |
| Yes, but I was unable to get the appointment I needed | 12 |
| No, I assumed I would be unable to get an appointment | 7 |
| No, I didn’t need an NHS appointment / I use private dental care | 19 |
| Don't know / can't remember | 7 |
[2] The latest report of the National Dental Inspection Programme, shows stark and persistent inequalities are widening between Scotland's most deprived and most affluent communities. Just 68.2% of P7 children in the tenth most deprived areas were found to be decay free – compared to 91.5% in the tenth least deprived – a gap of 23.3%, up from 20.1% in 2019.