National dental inspection programme

About this release

This annual publication from Public Health Scotland (PHS) presents findings from the 2026 National Dental Inspection Programme. The programme monitors children’s oral health, which is an important marker of physical health in the child population, and supports both national and local planning.

All Primary 1 (P1, typically ages 4 to 6) and Primary 7 (P7, typically ages 10 to 12) pupils are offered a Basic Inspection each year. In addition, a Detailed Inspection is conducted on a representative sample, alternating each year between P1 and P7 pupils. In 2026, the Detailed Inspection was carried out for P1 pupils.

Main points

• In 2026, 76.0% of P1 children in Scotland had no obvious decay experience, which is the highest level recorded since the survey began in 2003. This indicates an improvement in child oral health in Scotland, despite progress having stalled during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• In 2026, the average number of decayed, missing and filled primary teeth (dmft) was 0.92, the lowest level recorded. In 2024, the mean dmft was 0.99.
• Oral health inequalities remained in 2026, with 62.0% of inspected children living in the most socioeconomically deprived areas (SIMD quintile 1) having no obvious decay experience, compared to 87.3% of those living in the least deprived areas (SIMD quintile 5). Deprivation is measured using the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD).
• Between 2008 and 2026, all SIMD quintiles improved. Gains were greater in SIMD quintiles 1, 2 and 3 (19.8, 18.9 and 19.9 percentage points, respectively) than in quintiles 4 and 5 (15.6 and 14.2 percentage points).

Line chart showing the percentage of P1 children in Scotland with no obvious decay experience between 1988 and 2026. The proportion remained around 40% during the SHBDEP survey period and then increased steadily throughout the NDIP period, reaching its highest level in 2026. Overall, the chart shows substantial long-term improvement in children's oral health.

Close

Percentage of P1 children in Scotland with no obvious decay experience, 1988-2026^1-2

1. NDIP did not take place in 2022 due to COVID-19 restrictions.
2. SHBDEP (Scottish Health Boards' Dental Epidemiological Programme), a series of annual surveys of key age groups of Scottish children, ran from 1987 to 2001.

Background

The main purpose of NDIP is to inform parents and carers about their children's oral health. In addition, aggregated and anonymised data support national and local planning by informing the Scottish Government, NHS Boards, and other organisations about the prevalence of oral disease at both national and local levels.

The Basic Inspection provides feedback to parents/carers. The Detailed Inspection is conducted on a representative sample of either P1 or P7 children in alternating years. This more in-depth assessment provides data to monitor and report on oral health across the broader population.

Further information

The next release of this publication will be October 2027 (Detailed Inspection of P7 children).