Methods: Questionnaire surveys were mailed to active Members of the Australian Dental Association by the author. There were 12 Dental Practice Surveys at 3-5 year intervals from 1961 to 2007.
Results: Response rate was about 50% [30-60%] for 32,000 completed returns. Results have been summarised at approximate 10 & 20 year intervals. For the years 1966/1988/2007 there have been increases in: specialists [4.6/4.2/7.8%]; salaried in private practices [4/16/21%]; those working part-time [-/9/18%]; females [<5/10/28%]; & age of dentists [41/41/45yrs]. There has been a decrease in: weeks worked per year [44.7/43.7/43.7]; days worked per week [5.1/4.7/4.3]; hours worked per week [41.5/41.3/37.4]; laboratory hours worked per week [2.3/-/0.7]; hours worked per year [1850/1820/1630]; & chairside hours worked per year [1610/1540/1400]. There has been an increase in hours worked per day [8.1/8.8/8.7]. There has been decrease in: patient appointments per week [97/67/55]; & per year [3690/2940/2400]. Increases were noted for: time allocated for conservative treatment [28.6/33.6/37.2min]; average appointment time [30.1/35.0/40.6]; & chairside appointment time [26.2/29.7/34.9]. Number of different patients seen per year decreased from 1988 to 2007 [1320/1230]; with slightly less visits per patient each year [2.3/2.0].
Conclusions: In 2007, Australian dentists were working less hours per year with fewer, but longer, patient appointment times than in 1997 and 1966.