Access to NHS dental treatment in Moray is set to improve with the planned opening of a new dental practice in Elgin later this year.
The new facility, called 8 to 8 Dental, will be located on Lossiemouth Road. The practice is currently awaiting planning approval to begin operations from a newly constructed property.
The expansion is led by Hiranya Fadia, owner of the 8 to 8 Dental group, which already runs three NHS dental clinics in Forres, Keith, and Buckie. All locations are committed to providing care under the NHS.
Fadia credited the Scottish Dental Access Initiative (SDAI) for its support in making the latest project possible. He also acknowledged the programme’s role in helping him launch his first practice more than a decade ago.
“I would never have been able to launch our first squat practice in Buckie 11 years ago without them,” said Fadia. “The grant letter was crucial in securing bank funding at that time. Now, thanks once again to SDAI and NHS Grampian, we are moving forward with our fourth project.”
NHS Grampian’s director of dentistry, Mike Brown, welcomed the development and highlighted broader improvements in dental care access across the region.
“Thanks to great support from our independent dental practitioners, access to NHS dentistry in Grampian has improved significantly in recent years,” said Brown. “There is now good availability across most of the region.”
Brown explained that since the Scottish Government’s dental payment reform in November 2023, more dentists have moved to the area. This has allowed several existing practices to grow and accept new NHS patients.
“We currently have 47 practices across Grampian taking on new NHS patients,” he said. “While many are located in Aberdeen City, there is a good regional spread. Many practices are able to register new patients immediately.”
He added that the upcoming Elgin location would further boost dental care access in Moray.
“Of course, if patients are already registered with a private dentist and are satisfied with the care they receive, they should stay with them,” said Brown. “But for those who are new to the area, or wish to move to an NHS practice, there are plenty of options available.”
