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Published:
This is an archived release.
More than NOK 3 billion in public dental care
In 2013, total expenditures in public dental care in the counties were in excess of NOK 3 billion. From 2012 to 2013, the number of man-years and the level of activity in the sector have, to some extent, increased.
| 2013 | Percentage change | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Absolute figures | 2012 - 2013 | 2009 - 2013 | |
| Dental health status | |||
| Average number of teeth with caries experience per 12-year-old | 1.0 | -9.1 | -28.6 |
| Average number of teeth with caries experience per 18-year-old | 4.2 | -4.5 | -10.6 |
| SIC-index for 12-year-olds | 2.9 | 0.0 | .. |
| Man-years | |||
| Settled dentist man-years (public and private) | 4 012.4 | 1.3 | 10.2 |
| Settled dental hygienist man-years (public and private) | 859.70 | 3.1 | 16.9 |
| dental specialists (public and private) | 447 | 6.7 | 12.1 |
| Activity | |||
| Prioritised persons examined/treated | 851 614 | 1.7 | 5.2 |
| Children and youth 3-18 years old, examined/treated | 698 562 | 0.8 | 4.0 |
| Elderly, long term ill or disabled in home nursing, examined/treated | 34 550 | 8.5 | 20.3 |
| Elderly, long term ill or disabled in institution, examined/treated | 33 443 | 3.6 | 5.2 |
| Paying adult clients, examined/treated | 196 084 | 2.8 | 13.0 |
| 2013 | Percentage change | ||
| NOK 1000 | 2012 - 2013 | 2009 - 2013 | |
| Expenditures | |||
| Gross operating expenditures, dental health care | 3 075 724 | 4.7 | 18.2 |
| Gross operating expenditures, treatments of patients | 2 375 178 | 3.2 | 14.0 |
| Gross operating expenditures, joint functions | 700 546 | 10.3 | 35.1 |
Increase in expenditure
Public dental care in Norway is the responsibility of the county authorities. In 2013, measured by gross operating expenditure, the counties spent a total of NOK 3.1 billion on public dental care, which corresponds to a 4.7 per cent increase in expenditure from 2012. By comparison, the increase in expenditure was more than 18 per cent from 2009 to 2013.
The largest amount of expenditure in public dental care is related to patient treatment, but the greatest increase was in the expenditure that is not directly dependent on patient treatment. In 2013, the counties spent NOK 2.4 billion on employees, materials and services directly related to patient treatment, which is an increase of 3.2 per cent from 2012 and 14 per cent from 2009. With regard to expenditure not directly related to patient treatment, such as premises, equipment and rent/administration, these totalled NOK 700 million in 2013. This represents an increase of 10.3 per cent from 2012.
More man-years in both public and private sector
Patient treatment in dental care is mainly carried out by dentists, dental hygienists and dental specialists. The number of man-years in the public sector is increasing for all these occupations. In 2012, there were 1 226 dentist man-years in the counties, which represents an increase of about 1 per cent from 2012 and 7.5 per cent from 2009. With regard to dental hygienists, the number increased from 455 in 2012 to 469 in 2013; an increase of around 3 per cent, while there were 46 man-years carried out by dental specialists in 2013, which is the same as in 2012.
The private dental care sector carries out services to a somewhat different population and has a different assignment to the public sector. In 2013, there were a total of 3 234 dentist man-years in the private sector, which represents an increase of 2 per cent from 2012. The situation is similar for dental hygienists. In 2013, there were 391 dental hygienist man-years carried out, which is a decrease of 3 per cent from 2012. With regard to dental specialists, the number of man-years in the private sector totalled 401in 2013; a 7.5 per cent decrease from 2012.
Man-years in the public and private sectors combined show an increase in the total coverage of dentists, dental hygienists and dental specialists respectively from 2012 to 2013. In 2013, there were 1 146 inhabitants per dentist man-year in the public and private sectors in total, which means that the coverage of dentists has increased from 2012 to 2013. For dental hygienists, the developments in coverage are pretty much the same. In 2013, there were 5 943 inhabitants per dental hygienist man-year, while the coverage was 6 057 in 2012.
For dental specialists, the coverage has increased even more than the coverage of dentists and dental hygienists from 2012 to 2013. In 2013, there were 11 442 inhabitants per dental specialist man-year, while the coverage was 12 050 inhabitants per man-year in 2012. Moreover, the numbers show that there are differences in coverage from one county to another for all the three occupations.
Contact
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Trond Ekornrud
E-mail: trond.ekornrud@ssb.no
tel.: (+47) 48 13 70 09