Dentists in Scotland say they have been “overwhelmed” with calls from patients after the health secretary incorrectly suggested services were available at pre-pandemic levels.

The British Dental Association (BDA)’s Scottish Dental Practice Committee Chair David McColl says ministers appeared to have forgotten that services are running at a “fraction” of usual capacity.

Dentists currently only receive enough PPE from the Scottish government to treat up to 10 patients a day, 20-30% of pre-pandemic levels, the BDA says.

Speaking at yesterday’s covid-19 daily briefing, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said:

“NHS services in NHS-contracted dentists should be as available now, the range of services, as they were before the pandemic started.

“There are restrictions though on dentists’ practice. That includes PPE, it includes regular cleaning between patients, and it includes obviously physical distancing.

“That means dentists see fewer patients in a normal working day, so that can cause some of these delays.

“But all of the NHS-contracted services before the pandemic should now be available from an NHS dentist now, even before we’re through with the pandemic.”

Public Health Scotland data shows a sharp drop in the number of patients seen by an NHS dentist during the pandemic. In December 2020 it fell to just 28% of the 2018-2019 average.

People from the most deprived areas were less likely to have seen a dentist in the last two years.

The BDA says more support is needed to restore pre-pandemic levels of activity, including support for investing in ventilation equipment that can cut wait times between patients and “urgent interim funding” to help practices deal with a backlog of patients.

David McColl says dental services are not back to normal:

“Ministers seem to have forgotten that all dentists are operating at a fraction of their former capacity, to keep to strict infection protocols set by their government.

“With severe limits on access, emergency and urgent cases need to be at the front of the queue. Sadly, this slip of the tongue has left phones ringing off the hook in practices across Scotland.

“We are facing an unprecedented backlog, and the Scottish Government needs to provide funding and support to restore routine services. As it stands if check-ups [were] recommenced today, we wouldn’t be able to offer appointments for six months.

"Even before the pandemic Scotland's oral health inequalities were a national scandal. Now that gap looks set to widen, with public health programmes suspended and millions unable to access care.

"Dentists are losing the chance to act on the early signs of decay, gum disease and oral cancers. If we're ever going to turn the page, we need to see real commitment from government."

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