Dental care in Scotland now free for 18 to 25 year olds
26 August 2021
Posted by admin
2 minute read
More than half a million young people are now eligible for free NHS dental care in Scotland.
From today, around 600,000 18 to 25 year olds can get dental care free of charge.
This follows the SNP pledge to abolish all NHS dental care charges after they were re-elected in May.
Health secretary Humza Yousaf said: ‘We’re committed to scrapping NHS dental charges for everyone in Scotland. And removing them for everyone aged under 26 is our first step on that journey.
‘Today’s announcement means around 600,000 young people aged under 26 will benefit from free dental care from August 24.’
Commitment to NHS
In addition dentists will receive £7.5 million of funding to help practices buy new equipment. For example for drills that do not produce as much aerosol.
Yousaf added: ‘I am pleased to also confirm a further £7.5m investment for the sector. This will be used to purchase new dental drill equipment that produces less airborne particles, and therefore helps reduce the risk of COVID transmission.
‘Alongside our previously announced £5m to improve ventilation, this will further enable dental practices to see more NHS patients under present COVID restrictions, and demonstrates our commitment to NHS dental services.’
Colossal backlog
However the profession last week voiced fears that they had been given just 24 hours to prepare for the start of free NHS provision.
The guidance and advice from the government was delivered on Friday, just one full working day before the policy kicked off.
David McColl is chair of the British Dental Association’s Scottish dental practice committee. He said: ‘It beggars belief that practices have been given a single working day to prepare for seismic change in how dentistry is delivered in Scotland.
‘The rollout of free dentistry will inevitably increase patient expectations. It will heap more pressure on dental teams who are already struggling to address a colossal backlog.’
After tooth whitening, they stay white forever
You can expect great results from tooth whitening to last a couple of years if looked after well. Your lifestyle can affect how long your results last, such as food and drinks with strong colours that can stain teeth or not brushing well enough, as well habits such as smoking. Seeing your hygienist regularly will help to remove the stains that cause your shade to drop and also top ups are advised every 6 months for one night. This will help to keep that tooth shade looking white.
Anyone is eligible for tooth whitening
Not everyone is eligible. Pregnant and breast-feeding mothers can’t bleach their teeth. If you need any fillings or dental treatment, this should be addressed first. You have to legally be over 18 to have your teeth whitened and if you have inflamed or bleeding gums you will have to make sure they are healthier before starting.
Charcoal toothpaste whitens teeth
The myth behind charcoal toothpaste is supposedly that as well as being abrasive, the activated charcoal can absorb stains. There is not much evidence to support this in toothpaste and from experience it doesn’t work. Making your teeth appear black and then rinsing them to reveal your teeth underneath will no doubt give you a temporary feeling of increased whiteness, but this may be nothing more than a temporary placebo.
Over the counter products can whiten teeth
Legally, over the counter products can only contain a maximum amount of 0.01% hydrogen peroxide. This is not enough to establish a good tooth whitening result. Professional tooth whitening carried out by a dental professional can contain more, proven to give a tooth whitening result whilst remaining safe to use. Products bought from the internet or from other countries may not be in line with strict UK regulations when it comes to bleaching teeth. As a consequence, they may not be safe to use. Only get tooth whitening done via a GDC registered dental professional.
Tooth whitening damages enamel
Professional tooth whitening products such as Smile White, are designed by dentists to be safe and effective. In the UK we have stricter guidelines with tooth bleaching then some other countries. The products we use at Smile White contain Carbamide Peroxide which releases hydrogen peroxide to a specific percentage to whiten enamel safely. It doesn’t affect the structure of enamel at all. Infact, the hydrogen peroxide releases converts into water in its chemical reaction and releases oxygen. Water and oxygen are safe elements that we use in our day-to-day activities, they are not likely to cause damage to teeth enamel.
