NHS dental data monitoring report
Quarter Ending March 2024

About this release

On 1 November 2023, the Scottish Government implemented an NHS dental payment reform. This release by Public Health Scotland (PHS) relates to the initial transitional period of payment changes. It covers data for the quarter ending March 2024 and provides an early overview of certain metrics of activity and spend since reform introduction.

Main points

• 5,182,993 people were registered with an NHS dentist as at 31 March 2024 (94.6% of the Scottish population)
• 732,618 extensive clinical examinations were paid in the quarter ending March 2024 under the new pay arrangements
• Children and adults from the most deprived areas were less likely to have had contact with NHS primary dental care in the quarter ending March 2024 (44,812 compared to 55,780 for children and 133,705 compared to 168,161 adults)

Bar chart showing that the number of adults increased incrementally from SIMD quintile 1 (most deprived) to quintile 5 (least deprived). The number of children increased incrementally from SIMD quintile 2 to quintile 5. Quintile 2 was slightly lower than SIMD 1 (42792 compared to 44812).

Close

Number of patients who had contact with NHS Primary Dental Care; by SIMD quintile; quarter ending March 2024; Scotland¹

¹ Based on the month the claim was paid/authorised. Following completion of treatment, dentists have up to 3 months to submit a claim. As a result, the payment month may differ from the month(s) the patient had contact with NHS Primary Dental Care.

Background

Dental claims are submitted by NHS dentists for activity monitoring or to claim payment for treatments and associated fees. The Statement of Dental Remuneration (SDR) lists all the Items of Service (treatments and fees) that can be claimed.

On 1 November 2023, the Scottish Government implemented an NHS dental payment reform. As part of the reform, a new Determination I of the SDR was introduced.

The activity (treatments) data in this report focuses on the prospective picture and therefore only Items of Service using the new codes are reported. However, data on patient access covers all patient activity across the old and new payment arrangements. Financial data reflects the overall level of claims, including IOS claims made across the old and new payment arrangements. The Public Dental Service have separate contractual arrangements, and therefore their payments are excluded from this report.

Further information

The next release of this publication will be August 2024.