The Scottish Dental Access Initiative (SDAI) was set up to increase NHS dental provision in places where it is lacking.
Grants of up to £100,000 are offered for the opening of a new practice or extension of an existing one, while a recruitment and retention allowance provides up to £37,500 in the first three years of a dentist’s time in practice.
But in response to a written question from Scottish Labour MSP Paul Sweeney, public health minister Jenni Minto said just nine practices have been given money since 2020.
In September of this year, the chief dental officer wrote to health boards confirming a more “targeted and evidence-based approach to SDAI provision, ensuring those areas with clear unmet need are supported”, Minto said.
Mr Sweeney said: “There are huge gaps in access to dentists but the SNP government’s approach is clearly not working.
“NHS dentistry in Scotland is on the brink of collapse and far too many Scots are being left in agonising pain, unable to access services.
“The SNP government should act on the chief dental officer’s advice and take a fresh approach to this vital challenge.
“A Scottish Labour government will ensure that anyone experiencing dental problems gets the help they need.”
The figures come after it was revealed more than 300 dentists had taken early retirement since 2020.
Figures obtained by the Scottish Lib Dems showed 334 retirements in the past four years, with just 10 of those being of state pension age.
The party accused the Government of leaving “NHS dentistry to rot”.
While a spokesperson for the Scottish Government said there had been more than one million courses of treatment undertaken in the year up to June, but admitted that “in some areas, particularly rural areas, access to dental services remains more challenging”.
