Trends in dental care provided by health centres

21.12.2007

In 2006, visits in dental care totalled 937 per thousand inhabitants. Compared with 2005, the number remained roughly unchanged. In proportion to the population, the number of dental care visits varied slightly between different parts of the country. The highest number of visits (including visits in all occupational groups) was found in the health centres and municipalities of the hospital district of Kanta-Häme, totalling 1133 visits per thousand inhabitants. Compared with the hospital district of Etelä-Karjala (800 visits per thousand inhabitants), the figures in Kanta-Häme were 1.4 times higher.

An analysis by age group shows that, compared with 2005, a decrease of 3 per cent occurred in the combined number of visits for children and young people, while an increase of 1.2 per cent occurred in the number of visits for adults. A legislative reform has transferred the emphasis in dental care towards the treatment of adults.

Visits to dental hygienists have increased since 1995 among both under-18s and over-18s. An especially steep increase has occurred in both age groups in the 2000s. Dental hygienists rather than dentists have increasingly carried out dental examinations among children. The increase in visits to dental hygienists by adults, in turn, is due to an increase in the positions of dental hygienists in municipalities.

This bulletin was compiled by: Sanna-Mari Saukkonen and Hannu Rintanen

Figure 1. Dental care visits in health centres per 1000 inhabitants

Figure 2. Dental care visits in health centres (dental hygienists) for those aged 0-17 per 1000 persons of same age

Figure 3. Dental care visits in health centres (dental hygienists) for those aged 18 and over per 1000 persons of same age