By Lucy Ashton
Scots are waiting more than a year to get teeth extracted, data has revealed as the average waits surged since 2019.
In Greater Glasgow and Clyde, which includes West Dunbartonshire and Helensburgh, Cardross and Lomond, children on average waited ten months to have their teeth extracted.
Patients in Lothian waited an average of 62 weeks to have teeth removed, while those in the Borders and Grampian waited an average of 55 weeks and 54 weeks respectively.
In Lothian, one patient waited two years for an extraction, while in the Highlands a patient waited nearly two.
Scottish Labour Dentistry spokesperson Paul Sweeney, left, said: “Rotten teeth can cause excruciating pain but these figures show some Scots are forced to wait for years before getting the surgery they need.
“Some Scots will raid their savings to escape the agony, but others will have no choice about living with it.
“Scottish Labour will encourage more dentists to work for the NHS so that everyone can haave access to the treatment they need when they need it.”