Commenting after the publication of the latest NHS Scotland Dental Statistics, Dr Nanette Milne MSP, Scottish Conservative Health spokesman, said:
"The number of adults registered with a dentist fell by over five and a half thousand in the first three months of 2006. We said it was too late when the Executive came forward last year with their proposals to address the dental crisis in Scotland and if they will persist with their demands that dentists must treat a required number of people on the NHS to get a share of the new funding, it looks as if it could be too little as well.
"Last year we welcomed 32 dentists from Poland but in a typical move, the Executive placed the first 12 of them in the ForthValley and Clyde areas, when it was Dumfries and Galloway, the Borders and Grampian which were in the most need of help. Such decisions do not help the situation.
"Mistakes are still being made and there is nothing from the Executive to encourage dentists who have left the health service to come back, nor to prevent those thinking of moving out to reconsider and stay.”