Socio‐economic Factors Guiding the Number of Dental Specialists in Europe

Abstract

In the European Economic area, four countries have no recognised dental specialties and eight have five or more. Orthodontics is recognised in most countries and Oral Maxillofacial Surgery and/or Oral Surgery in over 60%. Other common specialties are Paedodontics, Periodontics and Prosthetics. Variation in the numbers of specialties and specialists between individual countries can partly be explained by oral healthcare systems. A further factor is that the population has become older, wealthier, less edentulous and demands more advanced treatment. Those who support an increase in dental specialties and in numbers of specialists, highlight professional development and better care for patients. Those against are afraid of restrictions in general practice and competition.Most existing specialties seem to have emerged from professional interests. Only two, Orthodontics and Oral Surgery, have been formally recognised by the European Commission (EC).A new EC Draft Directive proposes that specialties, which exist in 10 or more Member States will be recognised by the EU. This could lead to more dental specialties. The need for specialists should be assessed on the basis of treatment needs of the populations concerned. Key questions are how to ensure that, at present and in the future, specialties and specialists serve these needs and offer high quality and affordable services.