PATIENTS in Scotland are languishing in “agony” for over a year while they wait to have their teeth pulled, as waiting times across the country rocket, Scottish Labour has warned.

Data released to the party after a series of freedom of information requests to Scotland’s 14 health boards paint a picture of surging average waits since 2019.

Patients waited longest in Lothian, averaging a staggering 62 weeks in 2023-24, compared to just 12 in 2019-20.

This was closely followed by 55 weeks in the Border and 54 weeks in Grampian, up from 21 and 14, respectively, over the same period.

The longest individual wait was also found in Lothian, with one person forced to endure a two-year wait for an extraction, while a patient in Highland waited 94 weeks, and another was left for 87 weeks in Fife.

The figures tell a similar tale for children, with Greater Glasgow & Clyde topping wait times with an average wait of 43 weeks, closely followed by 42 weeks in Dumfries & Galloway in 2023-25, up from 21 and nine in 2019/20, respectively.

One child waited for an agonising 83 weeks in Highland to have a tooth pulled.

Commenting on the figures, Scottish Labour dentistry spokesperson Paul Sweeney 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 get the treatment they need when they need it.”  

The Scottish government was contacted for comment.