Perspectives on oral health care

Healthy teeth in a healthy mouth are of great importance to daily functioning and well-being. Primary oral care has undergone many changes in the past years, including changes in funding, practice organisation and care offerings. Society increasingly expects care providers to show accountability for the quality of care provided. Dentists also face this issue. There are signs that the quality of oral care is not always transparent, and that there is substantial practice variation between dentists. These signs were the reason for the Health Council to examine the evidence base of oral care in closer detail. To what extent can it be strengthened and would this lead to improved care? A specialised Committee has been appointed to answer these questions. The activities of this Committee are especially relevant given the current experiment with free market rates in oral care in the Netherlands.

Committee

• Prof. E. Schadé, Professor of General Practice and Family Medicine, Academic Medical Center Amsterdam, Chairman
• Prof. W.J.J. Assendelft, Professor of General Practice and Family Medicine, Leiden University Medical Centre
• Dr. J.J.M. Bruers, Sociologist, Dutch Society for the Promotion of Dentistry, Nieuwegein
• Dr. J. den Dekker, Dentist, Dental Adviser, Health Care Insurance Board, Diemen
• Prof. A.J. Feilzer, Dean, Professor of Dental Materials Science, Dental Practitioner, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam
• Dr. K. Jerkovic-Cosic, Dental Hygienist/Epidemiologist, Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen/University of Groningen
• J.A. Kieft, Dental Practitioner, Dental Adviser, Coöperatie VGZ (a not-for-profit healthcare insurer), Broek op Langendijk
• Dr. T.G.P.H. Mettes, Researcher in Dentistry, Dental Practitioner, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen
• R. Rowel, Dental Practitioner, Raalte
• Prof. R.M.H. Schaub, Emeritus Professor of Oral Health Care, Dental Practitioner, University Medical Center Groningen
• M. Schoneveld, Policy Adviser, Dutch Consumers’ Association, The Hague
• Dr. A.A. Schuller, Dentist/Epidemiologist, TNO, Leiden
• Prof. B. Stegenga, Professor of Oral Health Care and Clinical Epidemiology, Maxillofacial Surgeon, University Medical Center Groningen
• Prof. G.H.W. Verrips, Special Professor of Oral Health and Quality of Life, TNO/Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam
• P.S.B. Boom, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, The Hague, observer
• Dr. G.A.J. Soete, Health Council of the Netherlands, The Hague, Secretary

This publication may be cited as follows

Health Council of the Netherlands. Perspectives on oral health care. The Hague: Health Council of the Netherlands, 2012; publication no. 2012/04E. ISBN  978-90-559-905-2