ONE OF Scotland’s leading independent dental groups has announced a major patient recruitment drive in Barrhead to alleviate the NHS dentistry crisis.
Family run Scottish Dental Care is increasing NHS and private patient capacity by 1,000 patients for dental services at its Bishopton Dental Clinic in the north west of Glasgow, with a total 12,500 new patient spaces open across Glasgow and Aberdeen.
This initiative aims to address the severe shortage of dental services, highlighted by recent statistics showing that over 14,000 NHS dental patients in Scotland have faced severe delays in receiving treatment.
Recent data shared by the British Dental Association showed that 1.8m people in Scotland have not had an examination or treatment in the past three years, underscoring the urgent need for more dental appointments, as many clinics remain at full capacity and unable to manage the backlog of appointments exacerbated by the pandemic.
Lynn Hood, chief executive at Scottish Dental Care said: “Scots are suffering long wait times and severe delays in NHS dentistry.
“The dental sector is still recovering from the pandemic with most dental clinics at capacity and unable to take on new patients or even manage the backlog of appointments that has accrued over the past few years.
“In response, we have invested significantly to be able to grow our portfolio to welcome new clinics into the group, as well as expanding surgeries and welcoming new dentists and support staff to try and address some of the huge patient demand across Scotland.
“With up to 1,000 new patient spaces available at Bishopton Dental Clinic, we want to help as many adults and children as possible in the area look after their teeth, educate them on the benefits of good oral health and hygiene and ensure long term healthy smiles.”
Bishopton Dental Clinic offers a comprehensive range of high-quality NHS treatment as well as an array of cosmetic treatments.
Additional spaces have been opened in three other Glasgow clinics, including Cardonald, Barrhead and Gorbals.
Co-founder and director of dentistry at Scottish Dental Care and Advanced Dentistry, Philip Friel, said: “We are committed to addressing this crisis by providing high-quality, timely dental services to those in need.
“Maintaining healthy teeth and gums is extremely important and goes far beyond just having a perfect smile.
“Research highlights the far-reaching benefits of good oral hygiene, from reduced risk of heart disease and diabetes to improved mental health, contributing to the overall quality of life.”
Owned by brothers and founders Philip and Christopher Friel, Scottish Dental Care consists of more than 80 dentists, employing more than 200 team members, and serving around 250,000 patients.
Advanced Dentistry is a subdivision of Scottish Dental Care, with two dedicated clinics in Glasgow and Castle House Dental Clinic in Inverness.
To register as a new patient in Bishopton, call 01505 80 55 44 or visit https://bishoptondentalclinics.co.uk/
