These latter may well contain children who would have attended if disease had developed or caused pain. Deprivation has a large and continuing effect on attendance patterns. Figure 3 . The manner of first attendance of children to the GDS is a valuable indicator regarding the subsequent health of their deciduous teeth. Non-attendance and, particularly, weighed entry into the system are associated with higher disease levels.
Deprivation is linked to late attendance and weighted entry.
Children from the poorest areas in mainland Scotland are less likely to attend, either early or with their dentition in a generally health state. Carstairs, V, Morris, R 1991 Deprivation and Health in Scotland.