This paper is the first to present the actual NHS and independently funded working hours of dentists in general or community practice in Scotland in 2000, as reported by the respondents to a questionnaire survey.The findings should allow manpower planners to focus on the reasons for loss of dentists and to consider ways of encouraging them to remain in dentistry for longer.Comparisons of GDPs and CDPs provide beneficial insights for workforce and career planning.This paper also complements the recent qualitative report of women dentists' concerns.