Dental Instruments In Finland

How many dentists are there in Finland?

The number of practising dentists in Finland fell 0.6%, from 4,004 in 2015 to 3,978 in 2025 (Eurostat (dataset hlth_rs_prs2, Health personnel)).

See how Finland compares with Equate's other markets in dentists per 10,000 people across 21 countries.

What is the state of oral health in Finland?

In 2019, an estimated 29.7% of people aged 5 and over in Finland had untreated caries of permanent teeth (WHO Oral Health Country Profile).

In 2019, an estimated 34.2% of children aged 1 to 9 in Finland had untreated caries of deciduous teeth (WHO Oral Health Country Profile).

In 2019, an estimated 23.8% of people aged 15 and over in Finland had severe periodontal disease (WHO Oral Health Country Profile).

In 2019, an estimated 13.9% of people aged 20 and over in Finland had lost all their natural teeth (WHO Oral Health Country Profile).

In 2020, the age-standardised incidence of lip and oral cavity cancer in Finland was 3.0 per 100,000 people (WHO Oral Health Country Profile).

How are teeth numbered in Finland?

Dentists in Finland use the FDI two-digit system set out in ISO 3950, where 11 is the upper right central incisor and 48 the lower right third molar.

What do national dental surveys show in Finland?

• Healthy Finland Survey (oral health examinations) (Acta Odontologica Scandinavica, 2023): In clinical examinations of 1,798 adults in Finland in 2023, 27% of dentate participants had periodontitis (Healthy Finland Survey, Acta Odontologica Scandinavica).
• WHO Oral Health Country Profile (World Health Organization, 2022): In 2019, an estimated 29.7% of people aged 5 and over in Finland had untreated caries of permanent teeth (WHO Oral Health Country Profile).

How is dental care organised and paid for in Finland?

In Finland, Kela partly reimburses oral and dental care from private dentists; for example, a basic examination charged at EUR 70 carries a EUR 30 reimbursement (Kela).

In Finland, Kela generally reimburses a private dental examination once every second calendar year, and private dental costs have no annual out-of-pocket cap (Kela).

In 2019, per capita expenditure on dental healthcare in Finland was an estimated US$108 (WHO Oral Health Country Profile).

In Finland, Kela reimburses up to two dental hygienist appointments booked without a dentist's referral, and up to 15 treatments within two years with a referral (Kela).

How are dental instruments regulated in Finland?

In Finland, supervision of medical devices, device operators and device trials transferred from Valvira to the Finnish Medicines Agency Fimea on 1 January 2020 (Fimea).

In Finland, the Licensing and Supervision Agency (Lupa- ja valvontavirasto) began operating on 1 January 2026, taking over tasks previously handled by Valvira and the regional state administrative agencies (Lupa- ja valvontavirasto).

With effect from 26 May 2021, Regulation (EU) 2017/745 on medical devices replaced Council Directives 90/385/EEC and 93/42/EEC across the EU, including Finland (European Commission).

The authority responsible for medical devices in Finland is Finnish Medicines Agency (Fimea).

What are the rules for cleaning and sterilising dental instruments in Finland?

In Finland, THL's guidance on infection control in oral healthcare units is intended for all oral healthcare staff in public and private units, including for instrument reprocessing, although it is not legally binding (THL).

Where can you study dentistry in Finland?

Finland has 4 dental schools listed here, in Helsinki, Turku, Oulu and Kuopio.

In Finland, the dentistry degree at the University of Helsinki takes 5.5 years (330 ECTS credits) and leads to a bachelor's plus licentiate degree (University of Helsinki).

What are the milestones in Finland's dental history?

• Finland's national dental doctoral network FINDOS includes all four of the country's dental schools, in Helsinki, Kuopio, Turku and Oulu (University of Eastern Finland).

Which organisations represent dentists in Finland?

• Finnish Dental Association (Suomen Hammaslääkäriliitto) (association)
• Finnish Medicines Agency (Fimea) (regulator)

What do dentists in Finland search for?

Search data for Finland alone isn't published; these are the instrument searches across the English-language markets Equate tracks (Europe and North America), in Google Keyword Planner bands, October 2025 to September 2026.

Which dental instruments does Equate supply to Finland?

Equate's instrument guides for Finland cover dental curettes, dental elevators and luxators, dental explorers, extraction forceps, mouth mirrors, surgical retractors, hand scalers, periodontal probes, restorative hand instruments, spoon excavators and tooth extraction instruments.

City guides: Espoo, Helsinki, Kuopio, Oulu and Turku.

Why do dental practices in Finland work with Equate?

• Direct from the manufacturer: practices in Finland order 3,375 instrument references without a distributor mark-up in between.
• The same build standard applies to each piece: passivated stainless steel, ultrasonically cleaned, shape-, boil- and performance-tested and individually packed.
• A named Regional Executive for Nordics & Scandinavia handles quotes, samples and volume pricing for public dental services and private clinics and university clinics in Finland.
• Clinics in Finland can request samples and a quote before committing to a full order.