Dentistry fees a kick in the teeth for some patients

THE average patient seen by an NHS dentist in Scotland spends just £12.48 a year on fees, figures show.

The analysis of patient spending on NHS dental services over the course of a decade also found that almost half (46 per cent) of those seen by an NHS dentist were exempt from paying any charges at all.

But many people unable to register with an NHS dentist have to pay for private treatment, which has a much higher cost. While the numbers registered has increased in Scotland, some areas still have high demand from people wanting subsidised NHS care.

The Dundee University researchers based their findings on an analysis of 1.3 million dental claims between 1998-2007, on patients aged between 18 and 75.