The number of Scots registered with an NHS dentist is at its highest level since records began, according to latest figures.
At the end of June 2008, 75.6 per cent of children (794,000) 55.4 per cent of adults (2.3 million) were registered with an NHS general dental practitioner, representing an increase of 12 and 19 per cent respectively on the same period in 2007.
However the figures, published by the NHS, revealed just 39 per cent of children aged two or younger and 39 per cent of those aged 75 and above in Scotland have an NHS dentist .
There was also variation in the registration rate across the country, with just 38.3 per cent of people in the Grampian health board area registered with an NHS dentist, compared with over two-thirds (70.7 per cent) of people in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.
Public health minister Shona Robison said: "There are still parts of Scotland where registrations are unacceptably low and I will expect all NHS boards to continue putting plans in place to further improve access for their populations."
The minister highlighted other figures that showed a 4.1 per cent increase in the number of NHS dentists in Scotland in the year ending March 2008 – a trend which she expects to continue.
"Increasing the numbers of NHS dental practitioners is key to expanding access," she added.
The NHS figures also showed over 2.2 million examinations were carried out by NHS dentists in Scotland in 2007-08, with a 0.8 per cent increase in tooth extractions .
