finland.fi - A collection of Finnish public sector online services, maintained by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance.

Virtual Finland - A service maintained by the VF editorial staff of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs/Department for Communication and Culture/Unit for Promotion and Publications.

The EU Manual of Dental Practice - commissioned by the EU DLC (The Council of European Dentists, CED), descriptions of the oral health systems, and the ways in which dentists practise in each of 29 countries.

Oral health in adult Finns - Baseline Results of the Health 2000 Health Examination Survey

A comprehensive survey of oral health in adults was conducted as part of a nationwide study of health status in Finns. Over 6000 persons attended in the study, which included clinical oral examination, assessment of biting function, dentures, changes in oral mucosa, dental plaque, the number and location of remaining teeth and health status of the teeth and periodontium. Images of oral mucosal lesions were recorded with an intraoral video camera and a panoramic x-ray image was taken of the jaws and condyles. Also the subjects' own assessments of oral health, their need for dental care as well as on the number of dental visits were evaluated.

The majority of the population rated their oral health as good or fairly good, this proportion being smaller in those aged 65 or over than in younger age groups. Edentulous persons with full dentures did not regard their oral health as worse than dentate subjects. Half of the dentate subjects and one third of those with full dentures thought they needed dental care.

On average the respondents had been to see the dentist once a year. Those aged 65 or over used less dental services than younger persons. Both oral health and the use of dental services were inversely correlated with educational level. Adult oral health has considerably improved in 20 years.

Even so edentulousness remains a serious problem for those aged 65 or over. Up to the age of 54 the majority of the population seem to have a sufficient number of teeth for adequate chewing. In dentate people caries and especially periodontal disease are still a major oral health problem, particularly in men and older women.

The whole report can be read at http://www.ktl.fi/attachments/suomi/julkaisut/julkaisusarja_b/2004b12.pdf
The results of oral health are reported on pages 62-66.

Health 2000 was a health interview/examination survey carried out in Finland from fall 2000 to spring 2001.
KTL (National Public Health Institute) had the main responsibility for the survey. Also other Finnish social and health care organisations participated. People selected for the survey were first interviewed at home. After one to six weeks they received an invitation to attend a health examination.

The National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira) grants the right to practice as a licenced or authorised professional and authorises the use of the occupational title of healthcare professional.

Webpage: http://www.valvira.fi/en/

How to come to work in Finland

In order to be able to start working in Finland as a health care professional, you must submit an application to Valvira for the right to practise your profession.
All workers coming to Finland from abroad must obtain a residence permit if their employment lasts longer than three (3) months. The residence permit is granted by the police department of the place of residence. People coming from the EU Member States do not need a work permit.

More information:
EU/EEA Graduates
Non-EU/EEA Graduates

Language proficiency
Licensing of dentists from within the EU/EEA does not involve any language proficiency requirements confirmed by the public authorities. The employer (e.g. the municipalities) may, however, require a certificate of language skills. More than 90 per cent of the population in Finland speak Finnish as their native language, and slightly over 5 per cent Swedish. Treating patients is difficult without knowledge of Finnish.

See also Finnish Ministry of Labour