Restructuri̇ng of public oral and dental care services in Turkey: Problems and suggestions

The oral and dental health is an integral part of the general health and is an indicator for the socio-economic development of a country. Oral and dental health level in Turkey is far below the developed countries. Despite the significant developments in the last decade within the oral and dental healthcare, a systematic and comprehensive restructuring study that could resolve the oral and dental health issues and that would improve the public oral and dental health has not been presented. In this study addressing the restructuring in public oral and dental healthcare in Turkey; the current structure of the oral and dental health system and the issues within systems will be analyzed on one hand and on the other hand public oral and dental health systems and reform strategies being implemented in various countries around the world have been surveyed. In the field survey based on questionnaires, the opinions of 560 dentists and 84 managers working in public oral and dental health centers in 12 regions according to the Statistical Region Units Classification in Turkey and the opinions of 52 central and chamber directors affiliated to the Turkish Dental Association with respect to the issues being experienced in oral and dental healthcare in Turkey and the restructuring. In consequence of the survey, a new organization model for the oral and dental healthcare in Turkey is proposed integrated with the healthcare system, community-based, resting evidence-based, based on the public health approach, prioritizing the preventive healthcare presentation. Several more studies are required for the restructuring of oral and dental healthcare in Turkey. Key Words 1. Oral-Dental Health 2. Re-structuring 3. Oral-Dental Health Care 4. Public Oral-Dental Healthcare Services 5. Oral and Dental Health Reform