PROFESSIONAL DEMOGRAPHY OF DENTISTS IN FRANCE

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this paper is to analyze the role of the control of the professional demography of dentists in the satisfaction of needs in oral health of the population in France. Methods: We examine the general evolution of the professional demography of dentists from 1990 till 2011. We use the methodology of Hierarchical Ascendant Classification (HAC) to regroup regions according to variables of professional demography, health and economic situation. We examine undertaken demographic policy to meet needs of oral health of the population. Results: We note that the number of dentists in practice stagnated. Their distribution in the French territory shows important disparities. The profession is predominantly liberal. The HAC shows that the French regions best endowed in dentists, in faculties of dentistry and in specialists are the most developed and life expectancy is there longer. The main instruments of the demographic policy concern the numerus clausus, the support of work groups, the grants of studies, the helps to the installation or to the maintenance of dentists in zones showing a deficit, the adaptation of initial training. Conclusion: These results show the importance of demographic policy, policy of prevention and actions of education in oral health in school.