Table 4 Development in dental practices and collaboration in oral health care in the Netherlands between 1995 and 2018
From: Developments in oral health care in the Netherlands between 1995 and 2018
| Â | 1996 | 2001 | 2006 | 2011 | 2016 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
number of dental practices | 5.700 | 5.700 | 5.800 | 5.600 a | 5.100 a | 4.600 |
number of dental units per dental practice | 1,3 a (1,3-1,4) | 2,0 (1,9-2,2) | 2,3 (2,2-2,5) | 2,5 (2,3-2,7) | 3,1 (2,7-3,5) | 2,8 (2,6-3,0) |
number of ‘regular’ patients per dental practice b | 2.283 a (2.185–2.380) | 2.703 (2.518–2.888) | 2.899 (2.689–3.109) | 2.916 (2.710–3.122) | 3.298 (2.783–3.812) | 3.000 (2.722–3.278) |
number of patients visiting per week per dental practice | 130 a (123–136) | 141 (130–151) | 151 (140–163) | 149 (139–159) | 169 (141–197) | 157 (139–174) |
number of dental practices affiliated with a dental chain | nda | nda | nda | nda | 240 | 325 |
proportion of recently graduated dentists who want to become practice owner | nda | nda | 69% c | 51% a | nda | 54% |
type of practice (based on collaboration with other dentists) | ||||||
 1 dentist practice owner, 0 dentist non-owner | nda | 71% | 63% | 59% | 52% | 44% |
 1 dentist practice owner, 1+ dentist non-owner | nda | 14% | 18% | 25% | 25% | 23% |
 2+ dentist practice owner, 0 dentist non-owner | nda | 10% | 14% | 9% | 13% | 21% |
 2+ dentist practice owner, 1+ dentist non-owner | nda | 5% | 5% | 7% | 10% | 12% |
proportion of dental practices employing one or more: | ||||||
 dental assistants d | 96% | 94% | 89% | 89% | 88% | 90% |
 prevention assistantsd | nda | 19% | 45% | 47% | 54% | 54% |
 dental hygienists | 28% | 32% | 35% | 37% | 46% | 52% |
 secretary/administrative assistants | 31% | 39% | 34% | 46% | 51% | 43% |
 practice managers | nda | 7% | 19% | 21% | 28% | 25% |
 dental technicians / dental prostheticians | nda | 3% | 5% | 6% | 6% | 11% |
proportion of dentists in total practice formation | ||||||
 small (<= 25%) | nda | nda | 14% | 12% | 12% | 9% |
 rather small (26–40%) | nda | nda | 41% | 41% | 45% | 50% |
 rather large (41–55%) | nda | nda | 34% | 36% | 33% | 30% |
 large (>  55%) | nda | nda | 11% | 11% | 10% | 11% |
referral to dental hygienist(s)e | Â | Â | Â | a | Â | Â |
 yes, namely to dental hygienist:f | nda | 86% | 89% | 90% | 91% | 90% |
 - within own practice | nda | nda | 33% | 36% | 49% | 55% |
 - in dental practice of colleague | nda | nda | 11% | 11% | 9% | 13% |
 - in independent dental hygienist practice | 41% | nda | 57% | 60% | 53% | 47% |
 no | nda | 14% | 11% | 10% | 9% | 10% |
delegation to prevention assistant(s) | Â | Â | Â | a | Â | Â |
 yes | nda | 59% | 48% | 47% | 52% | 55% |
 no | nda | 41% | 52% | 53% | 48% | 45% |