Independence and oral health: implications of the Scottish referendum.

On 18 September 2014, a referendum will be held on Scotland becoming a nation independent from the rest of the United Kingdom. Since devolution in 1999 child dental health in Scotland has improved significantly, although the National Health Service in Scotland has always been governed through a separate legislative framework from that in England and Wales. Scotland was also first to introduce a ban on smoking in public places and is pursuing minimum alcohol pricing to directly improve public health. This article explores if a vote for an independent Scotland would influence either dental and/or general health.