Under half of all adults in Scotland are registered with an NHS dentist.

Under half of all adults in Scotland are registered with an NHS dentist.

However there has been a rise in the number of people registered for treatment, and also an increase in the total of NHS dentists working in Scotland.

Official statistics showed that at the end of September last year 48.6% of adults, a total of 1,975,181 people, were registered.

And for children under the age of 18 the total was 734,174 - or 69.9% of this age group.

That is an increase from June 2006, when 46.5% of adults and 67.5% of youngsters were registered.

The statistics also revealed a 2.7% increase in the number of health service dentists over the year, going from 2,842 on September 30 2006 to 2,919 on the same date last year.

Public health minister Shona Robison described the figures as "really encouraging".

Speaking on a visit to the Chalmers Street Dental Centre in Edinburgh she said: "I am very pleased that more people are now registered with an NHS dentist than have been for a number of years."

Ms Robison insisted: "The Scottish Government is absolutely committed to widening access to NHS dentistry.

"But I am not complacent - I know there is still much more to be done and some parts of Scotland still have problems with access to an NHS dentist.

"I am confident that the strategies we have in place, and new developments coming on stream such as the Aberdeen Dental School, will continue to drive improvements like we are seeing in today's figures."

Ms Robison said the government was developing outreach dental training centres across Scotland and added that the number of dental students in training was increasing, with a further rise to come after the opening of the Aberdeen dental school.

The Liberal Democrats said these figures showed only a "minor" rise in NHS dentists and patients.

Health spokesman Ross Finnie said: "These figures are not very encouraging given Scotland's poor oral health record.

"The Scottish Government must do more to increase the number of dentists in Scotland."

It should ensure a new dental school was built in Aberdeen - and that this was staffed without affecting the other dental schools, he said.