DECAY OF SCOTS DENTAL SYSTEM

900 quit before pension age over a decade

- BY CHRIS MCCALL

PAIN DRAIN Dentists bowing out CHRIS McCALL

MORE than 900 Scots dentists have taken early retirement in the last decade as the system falls into “decay”.

Since 2015, 999 retired with 946 choosing to quit before state pension age.

The figures come amid a surge in Scots who have forced to seek private dental treatment due to the dearth of clinics.

The British Dental Association in Scotland has previously warned patient access issues are a national problem and many dentists cannot afford to do NHS work.