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BACKGROUND: Since 1972 The National Child Odontology Registry has collected data on the oral health of most of all Danish children and adolescents. However, comprehensive information on the registry has not previously been available, making it difficult to approach and use the registry for research purposes.METHODS: By combining historical documentation and simple descriptive statistics we provide an overview of major events in the timeline of The National Child Odontology Registry and discuss how they impact the available data. We provide a broad overview of the dental variables in the registry, and how the registration criteria for some of the core dental variables (gingivitis, periodontitis, and dental caries) have changed over time. We then provide examples of how aggregate variables for the core dental diseases, allowing for comparison across registration criteria, can be created.RESULTS: Most of the Danish population born during or after 1965 have a least one entry in the National Child Odontology Registry, with 68% having entries spanning their entire childhood and adolescence. The prevalence of gingivitis and periodontitis seem to increase significantly in the years immediately following changes in how registration criteria for these variables, raising questions as to whether these diseases are generally underreported, or subject to overreporting in the years following the registration changes. The mandatory ages of registration instituted in 2003, do not appear to have had a strong impact on the ages at which registrations are made. For variables not directly comparable across datasets due to changes in registration criteria aggregate variables of measurements can be computed in most cases.CONCLUSIONS: The National Child Odontology Registry provides a unique opportunity to study the impact of childhood oral health on life trajectories, but using the registry is not without issues, and we strongly recommend consulting with experts in

Objective: To investigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the patient flow and economy as experienced by dental practices in Denmark. Material and methods: A survey regarding experience of patient flow, economical turnover, financial strain and willingness to pay for large treatments during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic (March 2020 to March 2021), along with information on the characteristics of the practice (specialist practice, ownership, practice operation and size) was distributed to all dental practices in Denmark in March 2021. Results: Of the 1728 practices, 581 (33.6%) answered the survey. A decline in patient flow and a decline in economical turnover were reported by 79% and 84.4% of the practices, respectively. Financial strain was reported by 15.8% and an increased willingness to pay for large treatments was reported by 32.1%. A large decline in turnover and financial strain were associated with non-specialized practices, practices with a single owner and small practices. Logistic regressions showed that practices not receiving referrals had an odds ratio of 2.34 (CI: 1.32-4.14) for having a large decline in economic turnover compared with practices receiving referrals and that small practices had an odds ratio of 1.92 (CI: 1.16-3.19) for reporting financial strain compared with large practices. Conclusions: Reportedly, the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in a decline in both patient flow and economical turnover in Danish dental practices. Large and more specialized practices seem to have managed the economic crisis better.

Objective: To investigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the patient flow and economy as experienced by dental practices in Denmark. Material and methods: A survey regarding experience of patient flow, economical turnover, financial strain and willingness to pay for large treatments during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic (March 2020 to March 2021), along with information on the characteristics of the practice (specialist practice, ownership, practice operation and size) was distributed to all dental practices in Denmark in March 2021. Results: Of the 1728 practices, 581 (33.6%) answered the survey. A decline in patient flow and a decline in economical turnover were reported by 79% and 84.4% of the practices, respectively. Financial strain was reported by 15.8% and an increased willingness to pay for large treatments was reported by 32.1%. A large decline in turnover and financial strain were associated with non-specialized practices, practices with a single owner and small practices. Logistic regressions showed that practices not receiving referrals had an odds ratio of 2.34 (CI: 1.32-4.14) for having a large decline in economic turnover compared with practices receiving referrals and that small practices had an odds ratio of 1.92 (CI: 1.16-3.19) for reporting financial strain compared with large practices. Conclusions: Reportedly, the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in a decline in both patient flow and economical turnover in Danish dental practices. Large and more specialized practices seem to have managed the economic crisis better.

Objective: Planning and evaluation of oral healthcare systems rely on monitoring of care patterns. Monitoring periodontal care patterns provide information on the burden and occurrence of periodontitis in the population and on the direct financial cost. The aims of the study were to describe patterns in periodontal care among dental care attenders that might incite subsequent investigation and revised treatment guidelines. Secondly, to estimate the direct societal costs of periodontal care. Material and methods: A retrospective register-based study utilising data from the Danish Public Health Insurance which includes all dental care attenders in 2012–2016, three years before and one year after a national risk-based recall maintenance program was rolled out in Denmark. Results: The 2.7 million yearly dental care attenders corresponded to ∼60% of the eligible population and in the range of 20–24% received periodontal care. Total expenditure for periodontal care in Denmark increased by 13% from 2012 to 2016, from €78 to €88 million. The proportion of total healthcare funding spent on periodontal care was 0.61% in 2016. Conclusions: Patients with periodontitis have large out-of-pocket yearly expenses for periodontal care. Despite small changes in periodontal clinical practice that may indicate improved targeting of patients in need of periodontal care, challenges of reaching non-attenders and non-adherence to care are unsolved. More research into outcomes from periodontal therapy in daily practice, seen from both normative and patient perspectives, would help establish knowledge of the efficiency of existing periodontal care systems and help identify barriers and facilitators for attending care in Denmark.

Udnyttelse af tandplejen defineres som den andel af befolkningen, der modtager tandplejeydelser inden for et givet tidsrum. Individuelle patientbehov afgør, hvad der betragtes som regelmæssig tandpleje. De nordiske landes tandplejesystemer har mange fællestræk, og et grundlæggende princip er, at alle borgere har lige ret til tandpleje. Generelt er udnyttelsesgraden høj i forskellige befolkningsgrupper i alle de nordiske lande, og befolkningerne har god forståelse for nødvendigheden af regelmæssig tandpleje. Når de årlige udnyttelsesgrader er mindre end 100 %, er en del af forklaringen, at tandsundheden generelt er blevet stadig bedre i de nordiske lande, og at der derfor er et stigende antal borgere, der ikke længere har behov for at blive undersøgt hvert år. Der er dog også evidens for, at en række faktorer som fx tandlægeskræk, socio-økonomiske forhold, stor afstand til nærmeste klinik og tandlægernes priser påvirker udnyttelsesgraden. Det er problematisk både fra et etisk og et juridisk synspunkt, at nogle befolkningsgrupper, især de ældre og socialt belastede, ikke i fuldt omfang får gavn af tandplejesystemerne under den nuværende organisering.

Udnyttelse af tandplejen defineres som den andel af befolkningen, der modtager tandplejeydelser inden for et givet tidsrum. Individuelle patientbehov afgør, hvad der betragtes som regelmæssig tandpleje. De nordiske landes tandplejesystemer har mange fællestræk, og et grundlæggende princip er, at alle borgere har lige ret til tandpleje. Generelt er udnyttelsesgraden høj i forskellige befolkningsgrupper i alle de nordiske lande, og befolkningerne har god forståelse for nødvendigheden af regelmæssig tandpleje. Når de årlige udnyttelsesgrader er mindre end 100 %, er en del af forklaringen, at tandsundheden generelt er blevet stadig bedre i de nordiske lande, og at der derfor er et stigende antal borgere, der ikke længere har behov for at blive undersøgt hvert år. Der er dog også evidens for, at en række faktorer som fx tandlægeskræk, socio-økonomiske forhold, stor afstand til nærmeste klinik og tandlægernes priser påvirker udnyttelsesgraden. Det er problematisk både fra et etisk og et juridisk synspunkt, at nogle befolkningsgrupper, især de ældre og socialt belastede, ikke i fuldt omfang får gavn af tandplejesystemerne under den nuværende organisering.

Objectives: A proof-of-concept study has shown that the Added Value for Oral Care (ADVOCATE) Field Studies approach (academic detailing with feedback data) is considered a feasible, useful, and acceptable way to motivate general dental practitioners (GDPs) to reflect on and, if required, change their oral health-care delivery. The aims of this proof-of-principle study were to test whether such results were reproducible and to reach consensus among stakeholders on recommendations for wider implementation. Methods: Eleven groups of GDPs were recruited in 6 countries (Denmark, England Germany, Hungary, Ireland, and The Netherlands). Each group had 3 academic detailing meetings, being stimulated by feedback data. Focus group interviews were held to evaluate the reproducibility of the Field Studies approach. A World Café session explored suggestions for the wider implementation of the approach. Results: Replicable results on feasibility, acceptability, and usefulness of the Field Studies approach were seen; 7 out of 9 themes identified in the proof-of-concept study were validated. Directed content analyses identified that adjustments to procedures to collect and present feedback data were desirable. Overall, the approach can stimulate GDPs to reflect on and change aspects of their oral health-care delivery. Conclusions: The Field Studies approach, after some adjustments to data collection procedures, is ready for further testing in larger studies.

Objectives: A proof-of-concept study has shown that the Added Value for Oral Care (ADVOCATE) Field Studies approach (academic detailing with feedback data) is considered a feasible, useful, and acceptable way to motivate general dental practitioners (GDPs) to reflect on and, if required, change their oral health-care delivery. The aims of this proof-of-principle study were to test whether such results were reproducible and to reach consensus among stakeholders on recommendations for wider implementation. Methods: Eleven groups of GDPs were recruited in 6 countries (Denmark, England Germany, Hungary, Ireland, and The Netherlands). Each group had 3 academic detailing meetings, being stimulated by feedback data. Focus group interviews were held to evaluate the reproducibility of the Field Studies approach. A World Café session explored suggestions for the wider implementation of the approach. Results: Replicable results on feasibility, acceptability, and usefulness of the Field Studies approach were seen; 7 out of 9 themes identified in the proof-of-concept study were validated. Directed content analyses identified that adjustments to procedures to collect and present feedback data were desirable. Overall, the approach can stimulate GDPs to reflect on and change aspects of their oral health-care delivery. Conclusions: The Field Studies approach, after some adjustments to data collection procedures, is ready for further testing in larger studies.