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This is an archived release.
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.
2015 | Percentage change | ||
---|---|---|---|
Absolute figures | 2014 - 2015 | 2011 - 2015 | |
Dental health status | |||
Average number of teeth with caries experience per 12-year-old | 0.9 | -10.0 | -18.2 |
Average number of teeth with caries experience per 18-year-old | 3.9 | -2.5 | -9.3 |
SIC-index for 12-year-olds | 2.6 | -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/treated | 864 860 | -0.4 | 4.0 |
Children and youth 3-18 years old, examined/treated | 714 875 | -0.4 | 3.7 |
Elderly, long term ill or disabled in home nursing, examined/treated | 34 216 | 1.6 | 11.8 |
Elderly, long term ill or disabled in institution, examined/treated | 33 000 | 1.8 | 5.6 |
Paying adult clients, examined/treated | 200 999 | -1.0 | 9.0 |
2015 | Percentage change | ||
NOK 1000 | 2014 - 2015 | 2011 - 2015 | |
Expenditures | |||
Gross operating expenditures, dental health care | 3 313 400 | 0.7 | 14.2 |
Gross operating expenditures, treatments of patients | 2 538 522 | 0.0 | 10.6 |
Gross operating expenditures, joint functions | 774 878 | 3.1 | 27.8 |
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.
Contact
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Trond Ekornrud
E-mail: trond.ekornrud@ssb.no
tel.: (+47) 48 13 70 09