From NHS dental data monitoring report January to March 2026 published today:

5,273,339 people were registered with an NHS dentist. This is an estimated 95.1% of the Scottish population, using the 2024 National records of Scotland population estimate. 3,273,405 (62.1%) of these registered patients have participated in NHS primary dental care within the last 2 years.

Source: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/nhs-dental-data-monitoring-report/nhs-dental-data-monitoring-report-quarter-ending-march-2026/

There is no formal NHS dentist “registration” system in England and Wales (unlike Scotland, where ~94-96% of the population is registered). Instead, official statistics track the percentage of the population seen/treated by an NHS dentist in a given period (typically the last 24 months for adults and 12 months for children). This serves as the closest proxy for access to NHS dental care. https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10700/

Latest Available Figures (as of mid-2024/early 2025 data)

England (June 2024): ~40.3% of adults had seen an NHS dentist in the last 2 years (down from ~50.9% pre-pandemic in 2019). For children, ~56.1% had been seen in the last year. https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9597/

Wales (24 months ending March 2024): ~40.8% of adults were treated by NHS dentists (up slightly but still ~11 points below pre-pandemic levels). For children (12 months): ~45.8%. https://www.gov.wales/nhs-dental-services-april-2023-march-2024-html

So, in the last two years, 62.1% of Scots have had NHS primary dental care but only just over 40% (33% fewer) in England or Wales have.