Page last updated: 31-JUL-2007

Dental Statistics


Statistical Publication Notice

31 July 2007

Nat_stat_1

Dental Statistics  


INTRODUCTION

Dental related information about the General, Community and Hospital Dental Services as well as workforce data are available in this section of ISD's website.
 
This release covers bi-annual figures published on the number of dentists working in the General Dental Service (GDS), annual treatment and fees information and bi-annual figures on the Hospital Dental Service (HDS).  Annual figures on dental registrations for children and adults are also published.
 

KEY POINTS

The number (headcount) of dentists working in NHS GDS has increased by 7.5% from 2,301 as at 31 March 2006 to 2,474 as at 31 March 2007.
 
There is one NHS GDS dentist to approximately 2,070 people in the population of Scotland.
 
There was limited change to the registration data in 2006/07.  The percentage of the Scottish population registered with a dentist is 66.8% and 46.2% for children and adults repecitvely.  Children are defined as those aged under 18.  Adults are defined as those aged 18 and over.
 

INTERPRETATION

One of the workforce tables presents the headcount of dentists by the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD).  It should be noted that the increase/decreases in the headcount of dentists in quintiles is due to a variety of reasons including: new dentists starting, dentists moving practice and the reclassification of postcodes to different SIMD quintiles.  Data this year are based on SIMD2006 index.  Here is a link to the Scottish Executive SIMD page:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/SIMD/Overview link opens in a new window .
 
A dentist may practise in more than one local authority / SIMD quintile.  This issue must be considered when using the information on the headcount of NHS GDS dentists as the dentist will be counted in each local authority / SIMD quintile they work in but they will only be counted once in the total.
 
Free dental examinations were extended to all NHS patients from 1 April 2006.
 
Childsmile - the national oral health demonstration programmes, were introduced in 2006/07.  This is a pilot for a new way of delivering preventative dentistry to children.  While 'Childsmile' children are seen in dental practices, at present there is no requirement for these children to be registered with a dental practitioner.
 
Fees are calculated by dividing item of service and registration costs by the child/adult population.
 

DETAILED FINDINGS

The number (headcount) of dentists working in the NHS GDS (non-salaried and salaried prinicpals, assistants and vocation dental practitioners) increased by 7.5% from 2,301 at 31 March 2006 to 2,474 at 31 March 2007.
 
Table D5 presents the number (headcount) of NHS GDS dentists by local authority and deprivation quintile.  It shows that as at 31 March 2007, the highest number of dentists were based in most deprived SIMD quintiles, 4 and 5, 743 and 609 respectively.  There has been an increase by 42% of dentists working in most deprived areas (SIMD quintile 5).  There is one NHS GDS dentist to approximately 2,070 people in the population of Scotland.
 
There was limited change to the registration data in 2006/07.  The percentage of the Scottish population registered with a dentist is 66.8% and 46.2% for children and adults repecitvely.  Children are defined as those aged under 18.  Adults are defined as those aged 18 and over. 
 
Among selected NHS GDS (non-salaried) dentist treatment activity, in the year ending 31 March 2007, there were small increases in the number of examinations and orthodontic active appliances provided, whilst there was a decrease in the number of fillings, root fillings and crowns provided. 
 
The average cost to the NHS GDS of treating a child during 2006/07 increased from £46 to £51.  The average cost of treating an adult during 2006/07 also increased from 2005/06 from £32 to £33.
 
The number of new outpatient attendances to a dental specialty has decreased from 101,964 in 2001/02 to 86,599 in 2005/06.  The number of hospital discharges from a dental specialty remained fairly stable throughout the same time period. 
 
The single most common reason for hospital admissions in children is tooth extractions. These procedures account for approximately one quarter of elective (planned) admissions where a procedure took place.  This pattern has remained fairly stable over the past three years.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
 

MAIN CONTACTS:

Denise Hastie
Statistician
Tel: 0131 275 6368
Email: denise.hastie@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk
David Conway
Consultant in Dental Public Health
Tel: 0131 275 6164
Email: david.conway@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk

Joan Forrest
Assistant Head of Group
Tel: 0131 275 6280
Email: joan.forrest@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk
-----------------------------------------------------------------
 

PRE-RELEASE ACCESS TO THIS PUBLICATION WAS GIVEN TO:

ISD contacts
Martin Morrison (PSD)
NHS Board Chief Executives
Scottish Dental Practice Board
NHS Board Dental Lead Officers
Scottish Executive
 

-----------------------------------------------------------------
 

HISTORY OF THIS PUBLICATION:

Last Published:  28 September 2006
Next Due:  January 2008
Data Avaliable Since: 

Registration data since financial year ending 31 March 2000
Selected treatment information since financial year ending 31 March 2003
Data on fees since financial year ending 31 March 2003
New outpatient attendance and hospital inpatient and day case data since financial year ending 31 March 2002
Workforce data on General Dental Service since 30 September 1996

 


Main contact: Email Denise Hastie