The National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 places a duty on every NHS board, in accordance with the regulations, to make arrangements with dental practitioners to provide NHS General Dental Services (GDS).
In the event that service provision is inadequate, NHS boards can put in place other arrangements. These can include provision of NHS GDS by the Public Dental Service, or the board can make special arrangements with an independent contractor to provide NHS GDS at suitable centres or in the homes of persons requiring such services.