New national figures show that Shetland has the highest proportion of Primary 1 children with no obvious dental decay experience in Scotland.
The latest National Dental Inspection Programme (NDIP) results, published 27 October, by Public Health Scotland for the 2025/26 school year, show that 90% of Primary 1 children in Shetland had no obvious decay experience, which is the highest proportion recorded anywhere in Scotland. This compares with a Scottish average of 76.0%.
This means that nine in every 10 Primary 1 children in Shetland are free from obvious dental decay, putting Shetland at the forefront of children's oral health nationally.
The NDIP examines the dental health of children across Scotland. In 2026, the detailed inspection focused on Primary 1 children, typically aged four to six, allowing results to be compared across NHS Board areas
The programme also plays a vital role in informing parents and guardians about their child’s oral health, monitoring dental health trends among children in Scotland and assessing the impact of the Childsmile national oral health improvement programme.
The results also show an improving picture across Scotland. Nationally, 76.0% of Primary 1 children had no obvious decay experience, the highest proportion recorded since the programme began in 2003. The average number of decayed, missing or filled primary teeth also fell to 0.92, the lowest level ever recorded nationally.
Against this improving national picture, Shetland recorded the highest proportion of children with no obvious decay experience of any NHS Board area in Scotland.
The results are particularly significant because tooth decay remains one of the most common preventable childhood diseases. Substantial inequalities in children’s dental health also remain nationally, with 62.0% of children from Scotland’s most deprived areas having no obvious decay experience, compared with 87.3% in the least deprived areas.
Shetland’s result reflects the combined efforts of children and families, schools and nurseries, dental teams and wider partners working to support good oral health from the earliest years.
Preventing dental disease starts well before a child needs treatment. Supporting toothbrushing, healthy diets, regular contact with dental services and early identification of problems all contribute towards establishing good oral health for life.
Antony Visocchi, Director of Dentistry, NHS Shetland, said: "This is a fantastic result for Shetland and something our whole community can be proud of. To have the highest proportion of Primary 1 children in Scotland with no obvious experience of dental decay is a significant achievement.
"Good oral health in children doesn't happen by accident. It reflects the fabulous engagement and efforts of parents and carers at home, our children themselves, schools and nurseries, and the wonderful commitment and enthusiasm of our dental team in providing effective prevention advice.
"While we should celebrate this result, our focus will remain on making sure every child in Shetland has the opportunity to enjoy good oral health. Dental decay is largely preventable, and we want to build on this success so that today's children carry these benefits with them into adulthood."
Further information
- The National Dental Inspection Programme is undertaken annually on behalf of Scotland's NHS Boards and is used to monitor children's oral health and inform national and local planning.
- All P1 and P7 children are offered a Basic Inspection each year, with a detailed inspection undertaken on a representative sample of P1 or P7 pupils in alternating years. The 2026 detailed inspection focused on P1 children.
- In 2026, 76.0% of P1 children nationally had no obvious decay experience, the highest figure since NDIP began in 2003.
- The national average number of decayed, missing and filled primary teeth was 0.92, also the lowest recorded.
- The full results were published by Public Health Scotland on 27 October 2026; https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/national-dental-inspection-programme/national-dental-inspection-programme-20252026/
- Further information on the Childsmile national oral health improvement programme can be found here: Childsmile – Improving the oral health of children in Scotland