Dental care crisis in Gällivare

It is the lack of dentists that makes public dental care in Norrbotten difficult to cope with in time.

This also applies to the most prioritized group, children and young people up to 23 years, and especially in Gällivare municipality.

"In almost all parts of the county we are on time with dental care for children and young people, but we have problems in Gällivare by calling them for examinations because of a long-standing dental shortage," says Jonas Thörnqvist acting dental director in Norrbotten.

Head of operations Eva Holmgren at the public dental office in Gällivare agrees that the situation is under pressure, not least for children and young people.

- We have 1.8 dentists employed and we need six dentists and it is clear that this will have consequences such as delayed examinations and that it affects Gällivare municipality. We hope it will be better this fall when we get more resources, ”she says.

Every third child, about 1,000 young people in total, has had to wait for their surveys since August 2019.

- But we work intensively to rectify that. A special action plan has been drawn up, which means that the division redistributes dental resources within the North business area. In addition, clinicians from coastal clinics will go up to Gällivare and work, says Jonas Thörnqvist.