Developments in Dutch dental practices

Objective: In providing dental care general dental practitioners (GDPs) in the Netherlands more and more collaborate with colleagues, with dental hygienists (DHs) as well as with so called prevention assistants (PAs). Providing dental care in Dutch dental practices gradually becomes team work. To keep informed on this development the Dutch Dental Association (NMT) on a regular base undertakes surveys to examine the practice situation of GDPs. Methods: In May 2004 a written questionnaire was sent to a sample of 798 GDPs of whom 411 (51%) responded. The data is analysed by using SPSS and compared with data of previous surveys on the practice situation of GDPs. Results: In 2004 almost one third (30%) of the GDPs collaborate with (on avarage 2,6) colleagues in the practice, while in 1999 24% of the GDPs did so. Furthermore 59%of the GDPs refers patients to colleages outside the practice or gets patients referred themselve. In 1999 this percentage was 73%. Most (88%) GDPs refer patients to DHs, while in 1999 30% did so. A quarter (25%) of the GDPs collaborate in the practice with a PA to whom they delegate (preventive) dental tasks. On average GDPs had in 2004 2,1 chairs at their disposal. In 1999 this average number was 1,8. Besides it appears that, while the average number of chair hours of GDPs tends to consolidate (32,2 hours in 1999 and 31,7 hours in 2004), each year more patients visit the practice at least once: 2.600 and 3.200 respectively. Conclusion: This survey offers the NMT usefull information for setting out its policies and strategy on practising dentistry. Moreover, the outcomes are used to advice, inform and support individual GDPs in al kind of organisational matters concerning practising dentistry.