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1 in 4 home care recipients receive free dental health care services
statistikk
2016-06-20T10:00:00.000Z
Health;Public sector
en
tannhelse, Dental health care, dental health care status, caries, dentists, dental hygienists, dental secretaries, operating costsKOSTRA , Health services , Public sector, Health
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Here is an overview of public dental services, including spending on patient care, the number of examined and treated people, dentists, dental hygienists, dental specialists and the prevalence of cavities among children and youth.

Dental health care, 2015

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1 in 4 home care recipients receive free dental health care services

In 2015, over 1 million people were examined and treated in the public dental care service. Of these, about 34 000 were recipients of home care and therefore entitled to free treatment. This accounts for about 1 in 4 of all home care recipients.

Dental health services. Main figuresPublished 20 June 2016
2015Percentage change
Absolute figures2014 - 20152011 - 2015
Dental health status
Average number of teeth with caries experience per 12-year-old0.9-10.0-18.2
Average number of teeth with caries experience per 18-year-old3.9-2.5-9.3
SIC-index for 12-year-olds2.6-3.7-13.3
Man-years
Settled dentist man-years (public and private)3 948.7
Settled dental hygienist man-years (public and private)924.40
Dental specialists (public and private)445
Activity
Prioritised persons examined/treated864 860-0.44.0
Children and youth 3-18 years old, examined/treated714 875-0.43.7
Elderly, long term ill or disabled in home nursing, examined/treated34 2161.611.8
Elderly, long term ill or disabled in institution, examined/treated33 0001.85.6
Paying adult clients, examined/treated200 999-1.09.0
2015Percentage change
NOK 10002014 - 20152011 - 2015
Expenditures
Gross operating expenditures, dental health care3 313 4000.714.2
Gross operating expenditures, treatments of patients2 538 5220.010.6
Gross operating expenditures, joint functions774 8783.127.8

Source: Statistics Norway

The public dental health care service in Norway is primarily intended to provide dental health care services to the parts of the population that are prioritised under dental health care legislation. Prioritised persons include children and youths, mentally disabled persons, groups of elderly, the long-term sick and disabled persons in institutions and in receipt of home care. Prioritised persons receive free dental services, or nearly free, which is financed by public funds.

Regional variations in dental care services among home care recipients

The elderly, long-term sick and disabled in receipt of home care are entitled to free examinations and treatment in the public dental health care service. In 2015, 1 in 4 of all home care recipients were examined and treated. There are quite significant regional differences regarding this group of patients. The county of Buskerud examined and treated the largest share of home care recipients, 36 per cent, while the county of Oppland treated the lowest proportion of home care recipients in 2015, 12 per cent.

The elderly, long-term sick and disabled in institutions are another group of prioritised persons who are entitled to free examinations and treatment. In 2015, nearly 3 in 4 were examined and treated.

1 in 10 have more than nine cavities among 18-year-olds

Children and youths under 18 years of age constitute the largest of the groups of prioritised persons in the public dental health care service. They are also entitled to free services. In 2015, about 3 in 4 of all 18-year-olds received examinations and treatment. Of these, about 10 per cent had more than nine cavities (DMFT> 9). The average number of cavities for 18-year-olds was 3.9.

The county of Finnmark had the largest proportion of 18-year-olds with cavities. In Finnmark, an 18-year-old had 5.3 cavities on average. In addition, Finnmark is the county with the largest proportion of 18-year-olds with multiple cavities. Fifteen per cent of the treated 18-year-olds had more than nine cavities (DMFT> 9).

Oslo has the largest proportion of 5-year-olds with cavities

In 2015, about 3 in 4 of all 5-year-olds received examinations and treatment in the public dental health care services. Of these, the average number of cavities (DMFT) was 0.7; the same as in 2014.

In Oslo, a 5-year-old had 1.1 cavities on average. Oslo also has the lowest proportion of 5-year-olds without cavities (DMFT = 0). Between 2014 and 2015, Oslo also had an increase in the proportion of 5-year-olds who received treatment. This means that there were more 5-year-olds with relatively fewer cavities in 2015 than in 2014. 

Smallest increase in total expenses for public dental health care services in ten years

Total expenses in dental health care services were NOK 3.3 billion in 2015. This represents an increase of 0.7 per cent from 2014, the smallest increase since 2005. The largest share of total expenses consists of expenses for patient treatment. The other share of total expenses consists of expenses for facilities, equipment and administration. In the last few years, an increasing part of total expenses has been used to cover expenses for facilities, equipment and administration.