Improving dental facilities across Scotland will be a top priority for health boards allocated £75m of capital funding on Wednesday.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said the huge investment in primary care facilities and upgrades would help modernise healthcare services and give Scotland "a dental service to be proud of".

The funding - split £35m for 2009-10 and £40m for 2010-11 - represents an increase of more than 17% over the two years on 2008-9's baseline target funding of £32m.

Priorities for this funding programme include: new dental centres for independent general dental practitioners (GDPs) working in the NHS, upgrading of decontamination facilities in GDP premises and community health centre projects and other new GP and community facilities, particularly in rural and remote areas.

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There will be renovations and reconfigurations of existing health centres, teaching and training facilities for all primary care professionals, including outreach services, for the training of dental undergraduates.

Ms Sturgeon said: "This substantial investment will allow health boards to put in place a range of new and improved health facilities to serve people in communities right across Scotland.

"Too many people in Scotland still don't have access to an NHS dentist and we are determined to reverse the years of neglect and bring NHS dentistry within reach of those who currently don't have access."

A total of £167m has already been allocated to Boards for Primary & Community Care Premises Modernisation Programme (PCCPMP) projects over the period 1999-2008.

(GK/JM)