Dental health care, 2003

Public dental health care activities in 2003

The number of prioritised people in public dental health care, including one and two year olds, increased by a meagre 0.8 per cent from 2002 to 2003.

A total of 1 191 571 prioritised people were under the supervision of the public dental health care in 2003. The number of children aged 1-18 under supervision by the public dental health care increased by 1 per cent. At the same time, there was an 8 per cent increase in the number of youths aged 19-20 under supervision. The group "other" was reduced by 25 per cent. Nine counties provided supervision to people in this group, which mainly includes prison inmates, people with certain special disorders, people under treatment for drug and alcohol abuse, people under treatment in psychiatric health care and retired people aged over 67. The reduction was mainly caused by the large reduction in this group in the county of Oppland.

Increase in paying adult clients

In addition to the prioritised groups, the public dental health care serves paying adult clients. The number of adult paying clients under supervision by the public dental health care rose from 184 233 in 2002 to 203 606 in 2003. Such services are necessary in some areas in order to fulfil the counties' responsibility for providing a dental service that is available for the entire population. At the same time the treatment of adults gives dental personnel in the public sector a more varied working day.

Changes in the number of people under public supervision in prioritised groups also have an effect on the number of people examined or treated in 2003. As fewer people in the group "other" were under public supervision, fewer were examined or treated. In the age group 19-20, there was a 4 per cent increase in examinations and treatments. In addition, more adult paying clients were examined or treated, although this figure is lower than in 2001.

Increased number of man-years

The number of settled man-years in public dental health care increased by 2.7 per cent from 2002 to 2003. This is 1.5 per cent lower than in 2001. The number of settled dentist man-years (dentists with and without specialisation) increased by about 2 per cent from 2002 to 2003, while the number of dental nurses and dental health secretaries increased by about 3 per cent.

The number of settled man-years is lower when adjusted for doctor-certified sickness absence. There is little variation between the different personnel groups when adjusted for doctor-certified sickness absence. The figure on man-years is 8 per cent lower for dentists when adjusted for doctor-certified sickness absence. The corresponding figure for administrative personnel and other personnel is 8 per cent lower, while it is 10 per cent lower for dental nurses and dental secretaries.

Tables:

• Table 1 Settled man-years in the public dental health care. 2003
• Table 2 Settled man-years. Public dental health care. 2000-2003
• Table 3 Settled man-years in the privat dental health care. 2003
• Table 4 Dentists and specialized dentists aged 16-66 with foreign citizenship that have been working in Norway less than five years. 1. oktober 2003