The British Dental Association says there is a crisis in the profession

Deputy Health Minister Rhona Brankin told the annual conference of the British Dental Association: "We are delivering on dentistry."

But the association has insisted that there is a dental crisis in Scotland.

The lack of NHS dentists has been well documented with long queues of people forming outside new surgeries.

The BDA deplored the minister's comments last month when Ms Brankin accused a Stranraer dentist, of a "political stunt" when he moved 1,000 patients out of the NHS.

But Kenneth Barr said he had no political motives and could see no reason why she had singled him out.

It will be a priority for us to ensure that dentists are kept properly informed of developments Rhona Brankin Deputy Health Minister

Ms Brankin was given a polite hearing at Friday's conference, although some delegates appeared unhappy that there was no time for her to take questions.

In her speech, the minister signalled a new drive to improve the dental health of children.

She said: "By the age of three, more than 60% of children in our most deprived areas will have dental disease.

"This is unacceptable. I am absolutely determined to turn that statistic around."

'More flexible'

Ms Brankin told the delegates that she had earlier this year announced the biggest shake-up of NHS dental services since the start of the health service.

She added that the reforms were matched with record levels of funding, to ensure that the NHS in Scotland "becomes a more attractive place for dentists to work".

Ms Brankin continued: "I have listened closely to the views of dentists around the country and believe that the package of measures we have announced meets their calls for a more flexible and less bureaucratic system."

Rhona Brankin received a polite reception at the conference

But she acknowledged concerns about a shortage of dentists, saying she was aware that the profession felt "very acutely" the impact of current workforce shortages.

Ms Brankin said: "If we are to deliver modernisation, a key challenge is to secure a dental workforce to meet the demands for NHS dental services.

"I am also aware that following the recent announcement, dentists will be carefully considering how their practices will benefit from the incentives on offer.

'Missed opportunity'

"It will be a priority for us to ensure that dentists are kept properly informed of developments as implementation of the action plan is rolled out across Scotland."

SNP health spokeswoman Shona Robison described the speech as a missed opportunity to reassure NHS dentists about their future within the public sector.