Finnish patients forced to wait due to shortage of dentists
Patients in Finland are facing lengthy waiting lists as the shortage of dentists gets worse.
In the coming years a large number of dentists are expected to retire in the country and waiting lists are set to increase in size as a result. In certain parts of the country, including the East, there is already a serious situation. Statistics show that there is a shortage of around 200 dentists in Finland, which equates to a shortcoming of 12 percent.
The number of dentists retiring, coupled with a lack of immigration are contributing to the shortage of dentists; an increasing number of public posts are not being filled and unlike other European countries, skilled immigrant workers are not flocking to fill vacant posts.
In the Kainuu area in the North East of Finland a new project is being piloted. There is a shortfall of around forty dentists in the region and public dental services are now working alongside the private sector in a cooperation model which is aiming to provide greater access to dental services for patients in the area. The model revolves around flexible working hours and involves dentists working for both the public and private sectors.
The new pilot has been praised by representatives from the Finnish Dental Association, who are keen to promote new ideas and trial new concepts. Currently, more than five thousand people have been waiting for dental care in Finland for more than six months. Matti Poyry, executive director of the association, said that the crisis was due to poor planning in the 1990’s.
The situation in Finland is expected to get worse before it gets better, with the number of dentists set to retire in the near future outweighing the number of new dentists. For now, officials and experts are trying to promote good oral health in order to reduce waiting lists and prevent patients from needing complex treatment; dentists are urging patients to brush their teeth twice a day for two minutes each time and use floss and mouthwash on a regular basis.
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