From 1 January, the public dental health offer greatly expanded. The state will now cover half of the dental bill right up to the age of 26. Previously, the state only covered dental expenses up to the age of 20. The new arrangement has led to more patients, and several dental offices report a serious lack of staff and space. – As of today, we are not quite ready to receive. Now we are looking at various possibilities and where we can increase the number of positions, says Agnete Norheim Kaldestad. She is responsible for clinics in central Bergen, Åsane, Arna, Osterøy and Nordhordland and Gulen. For the time being, the problem will be resolved by those who go to private providers being reimbursed the amount they are entitled to. Kaldestad adds that the change has happened quickly, but that they should be able to adapt. The president of the Norwegian Dental Association thinks the new scheme is poorly planned. Illustration: Vegar Erstad / news – Got it right away That young adults up to the age of 26 get part of their dental bills covered was one of the demands SV got through in the budget negotiations with the government. Dental health schemes for young people Up to the age of 18, everyone has their dental expenses covered. The state covers 75 per cent of the expenses up to the age of 20. From 1 January this year, the public dental health offer was greatly expanded through the fact that the state covers half of dental expenses up to the age of 26. President of the Norwegian Dental Association, Heming Olsen-Bergem, says the new arrangement is poorly planned, and makes it difficult for county dental health managers around the country to think long-term. – As of today, we do not know whether the scheme with extended discounted dental treatment will be continued, he says. In Vestland, the county director has requested measures to be able to adapt the dental health service to “frequent, large and sudden changes”. – We must prepare to receive the new group of patients. It quickly dawned on us, but we will manage it, says chief of staff for dental health, Clara Øberg, in Vestland county. So far, 20 new professionals have been appointed to the dental health service, but according to Øberg, far more are needed. Chief of staff for dental health, Clara Øberg, in Vestland county, says that many more employees are needed in the dental health service. Photo: Sondre Dalaker / news The county council is now in dialogue with the union representatives about creating a rotation scheme, so that dentists can work both evenings and weekends. They have also made direct contact with the dental education in Bergen to recruit more professionals. – Is there a risk of long waiting lists? – It can happen, but we have to make sure that our patients get the services they need, says Øberg. As of today, the county council buys dental services from private actors. More pressure during the holidays For the Nordfjord-owned dental clinic, the new dental health scheme means an increase of 500-600 patients. Still, the dental clinic has noticed little about the new patients, but expects that the pressure will increase when the young Nordfjord residents come home for the holidays. Clinic manager Kristin Lefdal prepares for dental treatment. Photo: Benedikte Grov / news – The scheme goes beyond the adult payers, which we have to show to private dentists, says Kristin Lefdal, who is manager of clinics in Nordfjordeid, Sandane and Stryn. In Oslo too, it is challenging to adapt to the new system. – We do not have the capacity to treat this group ourselves, says department director Per Christian Prøsch in Oslo municipality. He says that they have a backlog of calls for the groups they are required by law to prioritize, and have instead let the users make use of private dental health services. – Implements election campaign promise Health policy spokesperson in SV, Marian Hussein, is disappointed by the negative reactions to the new arrangement. She thinks it is strange that the dental association is surprised that politicians implement what they have said in the election campaign. SV’s health policy spokesperson, Marian Hussein, says it is “strange” that the dental association is surprised that politicians implement what they have said in the election campaign. Photo: Tom Balgaard/news / news – The Storting election in 2021 gave us a majority for a dental health reform, something 90 per cent of the Norwegian people have wanted for a long time, she says. – What do you say to the criticism that it has been too poorly planned? – It will be demanding to expand the capacity, but I have also met many people who are happy that we are finally investing in oral health.
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Sponsorship of young adults creates pressure on dentists – news Vestland
