March 2015

Volume 32, Issue 1

Treatment provided in the Public Dental Service in Finland in 2009

Authors: M. Ekqvist T.T. Seppälä H. Tiira J. Linden E. Widström
doi: 10.1922/CDH_3475Widström05

Abstract

Treatment provided in the Public Dental Service in Finland in 2009 E. Widström, J. Linden, H. Tiira, T.T. Seppälä and M. Ekqvist Objectives: To analyse treatment measures provided in the Public Dental Service (PDS) and to discuss the therapy given against treatment needs as expressed in the national clinical epidemiological studies. Methods: In 2009, the Chief Dentists of the PDS units collected data from their local registers on patients and treatment provided. Data were obtained from 166 PDS units (86%). Treatment patterns were compared between age groups, provider groups and geographical areas using chi-square tests. Results: Altogether 8.9 million treatments were provided for 1.7 million patients. Examinations, restorative treatment and anaesthesia accounted for 61.3% of all treatments. Preventive measures (8.4%) and periodontal treatment (6.3%) were small proportions of the total. Prosthetic treatment was uncommon (0.5%). Working age adults received half of all treatments (53.2%), the young a third (36.4%) and the elderly 10.4%. Dental hygienists or dental assistants provided 29.7% of all treatment for children and adolescents, 11.1% for adults and 14.1% for the elderly. Conclusion: Relatively healthy children had plenty of examinations and preventive measures, and adults had mostly restorative care when their needs were more periodontal and prosthetic care, indicating that treatment given was not fully in line with needs. Key words: health services research, register study, treatment measures, dentists, dental hygienists, Public Dental Service, Finland

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Health economic analyses of domiciliary dental care and care at fixed clinics for elderly nursing home residents in Sweden 39-43 Download
School-based intervention for improving the oral health of children in southern Thailand 44-50 Download
Tooth brushing among 11- to 15-year-olds in Denmark: combined effect of social class and migration status. 51-55 Download
The incidence and nature of complaints against dentists for the treatment of children in Israel from 1992–2011 56-59 Download
Treatment provided in the Public Dental Service in Finland in 2009 60-64 Download

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