HEALTH CHECK-UP CRISIS DEEPENS: THE TOOTH HURTS AS DENTISTS DROP NHS

Free treatment is harder to find

- VIVIENNE AITKEN

THOUSANDS of people have not had their teeth checked in years and are suffering in agony as Scotland's NHS dentist crisis deepens.

Latest figures show a growing number of dental surgeries are switching to private practice as communities struggle with the cost of living rise.

Nearly 82 per cent of all NHS dentists are no longer taking on new health service patients, while 83 per cent now say they will reduce their NHS commitment.

And in the year ahead more than a third say they intend to change career or seek early retirement.