Dental Instruments In Sweden
Written by the Equate Instruments Technical Team · Published ·
Dentists and distributors in Sweden can buy Equate dental instruments directly from the manufacturer, through the Regional Executive for Nordics & Scandinavia. In 2016, Sweden had 8,077 dentists, or 8.2 per 10,000 people (WHO Oral Health Country Profile, National Health Workforce Accounts).
Key points
- Medical devices in Sweden are overseen by Swedish Medical Products Agency (Läkemedelsverket).
- Equate sells direct to Sweden, with a named Regional Executive for Nordics & Scandinavia.
Dentists in Sweden at a glance
- Practising dentists: 7,898 (2014) to 8,465 (2024)
- +7.2% since 2014
- Practising dentists: 7,898 (2014) to 8,465 (2024)
- Eurostat (dataset hlth_rs_prs2, Health personnel), 2024
- In 2016, Sweden had 8,077 dentists, or 8.2 per 10,000 people (WHO Oral Health Country Profile, National Health Workforce Accounts).
- 8.2
- In 2016, Sweden had 8,077 dentists, or 8.2 per 10,000 people (WHO Oral Health Country Profile, National Health Workforce Accounts).
- World Health Organization, 2016
- dental schools listed
- 4
- dental schools listed
- Equate research
- Untreated caries, age 5+36.1%
- Severe periodontal disease, 15+20.5%
- No natural teeth, 20+11.3%
The dark line marks the median of Equate's 22 markets. Source: WHO Oral Health Country Profiles 2022 (2019 estimates).
How many dentists are there in Sweden?
The number of practising dentists in Sweden rose 7.2%, from 7,898 in 2014 to 8,465 in 2024 (Eurostat (dataset hlth_rs_prs2, Health personnel)).
See how Sweden compares with Equate's other markets in dentists per 10,000 people across 21 countries.
What is the state of oral health in Sweden?
In 2019, an estimated 36.1% of people aged 5 and over in Sweden had untreated caries of permanent teeth (WHO Oral Health Country Profile).
In 2019, an estimated 38.6% of children aged 1 to 9 in Sweden had untreated caries of deciduous teeth (WHO Oral Health Country Profile).
In 2019, an estimated 20.5% of people aged 15 and over in Sweden had severe periodontal disease (WHO Oral Health Country Profile).
In 2019, an estimated 11.3% of people aged 20 and over in Sweden had lost all their natural teeth (WHO Oral Health Country Profile).
In 2020, the age-standardised incidence of lip and oral cavity cancer in Sweden was 3.1 per 100,000 people (WHO Oral Health Country Profile).
Between 2021 and 2024, the share of 12-year-olds in Sweden with no caries rose from 69% to 73% (Socialstyrelsen).
Between 2021 and 2024, the share of 6-year-olds in Sweden with no caries rose from 78% to 83% (Socialstyrelsen).
Which organisations represent dentists in Sweden?
- Swedish Dental Association (Sveriges Tandläkarförbund) (association)
- Socialstyrelsen (National Board of Health and Welfare) (regulator)
Most-searched Equate instruments for Sweden
All products
extraction forceps
Extracting Forceps American Pattern Fig.17 - Lower Molars
EI-1414
extraction forceps
Extracting Forceps Fig.88R Upper Molars Right - American Pattern Cowhorn
EI-1428
hand scalers
H6-H7 Anterior Sickle Scaler
EI-0251
hand scalers
Sharp Jacquette J-Scaler
EI-0253
dental elevators and luxators
Buser Periosteal Elevator 18 cm - Anatomical Hollow Handle 10 mm
EI-2687
dental elevators and luxators
Freer Periosteal Elevator 5mm/5mm - 19cm Hollow Handle 10mm
EI-2694
periodontal probes
UNC Periodontal Probe CP 15 - Hollow Handle
EI-0040
periodontal probes
Periodontal Probe CP12/#23 - Solid Knurled Handle
EI-0081
What do dentists in Sweden search for?
Search data for Sweden 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.
| Instrument | Searches a month (band) | Most searched term |
|---|---|---|
| Dental Extraction Forceps | 50,350 | dental forceps |
| Dental Scalers (Hand Scalers) | 43,200 | dental scaler |
| Dental Elevators and Luxators | 40,550 | dental elevator |
| Periodontal Probes | 35,600 | dental perio probe |
| Restorative Dental Hand Instruments | 24,000 | acorn burnisher |
| Dental and Oral Surgery Retractors | 20,900 | cheek retractors |
How are teeth numbered in Sweden?
Dentists in Sweden 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 Sweden?
- National Dental Health Register (Tandhälsoregistret) (Socialstyrelsen, 2025): Just over four million adults aged 20 or older in Sweden visited dental care in 2025, about half the population (Socialstyrelsen, Dental Health Register).
- WHO Oral Health Country Profile (World Health Organization, 2022): In 2019, an estimated 36.1% of people aged 5 and over in Sweden had untreated caries of permanent teeth (WHO Oral Health Country Profile).
How is dental care organised and paid for in Sweden?
In Sweden, dental care is free up to and including the year a person turns 19 (1177).
In Sweden, the general dental care allowance is SEK 600 a year for ages 20 to 23, SEK 300 for ages 24 to 65 and SEK 600 from age 67 (Försäkringskassan).
Sweden's dental high-cost protection covers 50% of reference-price costs between SEK 3,000 and SEK 15,000, and 85% above SEK 15,000, in a 12-month period (Försäkringskassan).
In 2024, 13.3% of men and 12.8% of women in Sweden refrained from dental care for financial reasons despite a need for it (Socialstyrelsen).
How are dental instruments regulated in Sweden?
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 Sweden (European Commission).
The authority responsible for medical devices in Sweden is Swedish Medical Products Agency (Läkemedelsverket).
What are the rules for cleaning and sterilising dental instruments in Sweden?
In Sweden, Socialstyrelsen's regulations on basic hygiene in health and social care (SOSFS 2015:10) also apply to activities under the Dental Care Act (1985:125) (Socialstyrelsen, via lagen.nu).
Where can you study dentistry in Sweden?
Dental degrees in Sweden are taught at 4 schools, based in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö and Umeå.
In Sweden, the dental programme at Karolinska Institutet comprises 300 higher-education credits over five years (Karolinska Institutet).
| School | City | Founded | Degree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karolinska Institutet, Dental programme | Stockholm | Tandläkarexamen (Master of Science in Dental Surgery) | |
| University of Gothenburg, Dental programme | Gothenburg | Tandläkarexamen | |
| Malmö University, Dental programme | Malmö | Tandläkarexamen | |
| Umeå University, Dental programme | Umeå | Tandläkarexamen |
What are the milestones in Sweden's dental history?
- Sweden's dental programmes run at four institutions, Malmö University, the University of Gothenburg, Karolinska Institutet and Umeå University, each as five years of full-time study (Swedish Dental Association).
Which dental instruments does Equate supply to Sweden?
Equate's instrument guides for Sweden 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: Gothenburg, Malmö, Stockholm and Umeå.
Why do dental practices in Sweden work with Equate?
- Buyers in Sweden deal with the manufacturer itself, choosing from 3,375 instrument references.
- Each reference is passivated stainless steel, ultrasonically cleaned, shape-, boil- and performance-tested and individually packed, whatever the pattern.
- A named Regional Executive for Nordics & Scandinavia handles quotes, samples and volume pricing for public dental services and private clinics and university clinics in Sweden.
- Samples are available, so a clinic in Sweden can test an instrument before ordering in volume.
Social listening
What dental professionals and students across Nordics & Scandinavia discuss online
Public trust in instrument sterilisation
CriticalIn Finnish and Swedish public forums, people ask how they can tell whether a clinic's instruments are really clean. Regulator cases where rusty or badly sterilised instruments were found, or an autoclave ran too cool, are discussed with alarm. Some posters say inspections catch these problems.
- Hammaslääkärin työkalut· Suomi24, 2005
- Tandläkarklinik använde rostiga verktyg.· Flashback Forum, 2019
- Hammaslääkäri menetti lupansa, kuka?· Suomi24, 2010
Who reprocesses instruments, and with what training
MixedIn private practice, dental assistants usually run the washer-disinfector and autoclave and oil the handpieces as part of their wider job. Some posters argue that this staff gets only a few weeks of reprocessing training. They also claim that single-use items are sometimes reprocessed to save money, and other posters dispute this.
- Hammashoitaja· Suomi24, 2007
- Välinehuoltajilla EI ammattinimikesuojaa!· Suomi24, 2016
Workload and practice pressure
CriticalAssistants describe tightly packed schedules, with constant restocking and fetching of instruments and little time for breaks. Dentists contrast public care, which is more stressful and lower paid, with owner-run private practice, which brings more control and higher earnings.
- Hammashoitajan työ on syvältä· Suomi24, 2022
- Tandläkare svarar på frågor om yrket· Flashback Forum, 2019
Equate's summary of public threads on Flashback Forum, Suomi24, read 2026-10-27. No posters are named and brand names are left out; thread links are listed in the page's data file.
Equate data
Sweden in Equate's market data
Sweden ranks 4 of 22 in the Equate Dental Market Index 2026, with a score of 82.1 out of 100. See the full index
“Our members want more people to have the opportunity to access dental care”
Your Regional Executive · Nordics & Scandinavia
Hassan Nazir
Regional Executive, Helsinki, Finland
Frequently asked questions
Until what age is dental care free in Sweden?
According to 1177, dental care in Sweden is free up to and including the year a person turns 19. Adults then receive the state dental care support.
How does the Swedish dental care subsidy work?
Försäkringskassan pays a general dental care allowance of SEK 600 a year for ages 20 to 23, SEK 300 for ages 24 to 65 and SEK 600 from 67. High-cost protection covers 50% of costs between SEK 3,000 and SEK 15,000 and 85% above that.
Where can you train as a dentist in Sweden?
Dental programmes run at Karolinska Institutet, the University of Gothenburg, Malmö University and Umeå University. Each is five years of full-time study.
How many dentists does Sweden have?
WHO data show Sweden had 8,077 dentists in 2016, or 8.2 per 10,000 people.
Is children's oral health improving in Sweden?
Socialstyrelsen reports that the share of caries-free 12-year-olds rose from 69% to 73% between 2021 and 2024. Just over four million adults visited dental care in 2025.
References
I am a… in Sweden
