Objective. The purpose of this study was to present the impact of demography
and market dynamics on the organizational and technological
development of dental practices in Bulgaria during the period of
socio-economic transition from 1990 to 2010. Material and methods.
Relevant data were gathered from the official registers of the Bulgarian
Dental Association, National Health Insurance Fund, National Health
Information Institute and research studies, published during the period
1990-2010. They were analysed and are discussed in this paper. Results.
During the period there was a decrease in population of Bulgaria, from
8,149,468 in 2000 to 7,563,000 in 2010 and a movement from rural
areas to cities. There was an aging population with an increase in oral
health care needs at a time of decrease in the size of the national labour
force and economic growth. Paradoxically, over the last 20 years, the
number of dentists in Bulgaria increased by more than 50% from 1997
to 2008. The average age of dentists changed from 39.7 years in 1997
to 41.7 years in 2008. The number of group dental practices increased
and the number of individual practices and group practices for specialized
dental care and dental centres decreased. The utilization of
dental services is currently “about half ” that of the mean for all European
Union Member States, which is over 80% per year. Conclusions.
The growing number of elderly people who have retained their teeth
suggests an increase in treatment needs. However, the decline in their
purchasing power limits the demand for oral health care services. In
order to meet this and other challenges Bulgarian dentists have started
changing their traditional solo-practice to group-practice.