What Country Has The Best Dentists In The World (And The Best Teeth)?

Ever wondered which nation has the cleanest teeth, or which country has the best dentists? Well, in case you have, you’re in the right place. In recent years, there have been numerous studies researching the quality of dental care in countries around the world. And as of lately, we’ve got a ranking of the countries with the best dentists and overall dental care. The majority of those countries are from Europe, and you would never guess where the U.S. dentists rank.

So, if you want to find out which country has the best dentists, and where the U.S. dentists stand, then keep on reading!

Best Ranking Countries In regards to Dental Care (Europe)

According to a recent European study, published in May 2020, the majority of the countries with the best dental care come from the European Union or European countries. The study has analyzed the sources from the World Health Organization, and the Statistical Office of the European Union in regards to country investment in dental care.

The study has included statistics and numbers in regards to national and individual dental care, even during the pandemic of coronavirus or COVID-19. There were 26 countries examined in the study, and each country was analyzed in regards to the dental condition of the citizens, and the number and quality of dental facilities in the country. When it comes to dental facilities in different countries, the study analyzed the number of dentists per 100,000 people and well as government investment in dental facilities and oral health.

So, here are the rankings for the countries with the best dentists in Europe;

1. Italy

Italian dentists currently hold 1st place in Europe. Italy provides 77 dentists per 100,000 people which is an excellent number. The study has looked into the annual sugar consumption of Italians, which is 27kg and one of the lowest cases of sugar consumption in Europe. Moreover, Italians have the lowest cases of alcohol and cigarette consumption, which also contributes to the overall dental care status.

According to the study, Italy does rank 7th place in regards to the Decay-Missing-Filled Teeth Index, but that doesn’t affect the overall quality of dental care Italian dentists provide.

2. Germany

German dentists are right behind their Italian colleagues. In Germany, there are 82 dentists per 100,000 people and 34 facilities for the same number of people. Compared to Italians, Germans do consume a bit more sugar, which is 36.9kg annually. Nevertheless, they do experience fewer tooth decay cases despite the higher sugar intake. For example, only 0.5 teeth on average are being treated for tooth decay at the age of 12 in Germany.

Germans do also consume more alcohol and cigarettes on average, and generally have a higher proportion of smokers than Italians.

3. The United Kingdom

Even though the Uk dentists rank 6th among the 26 analyzed countries, they are still some of the best dental care providers in Europe. In the UK, there are 54 dentists per 100,000 people, and 16 dental facilities per the same number of people. Unlike the Italians and the Germans, people in the UK consume almost 40kg of sugar annually but have an incredibly low number of cases of tooth decay. That further shows the quality of dentists and dental care across the country. In the UK, 0.5 teeth are being treated for tooth decay among 12-year olds, which is an exceptional number.

The reason the UK has such a good dental care system and service lies in the high number of dental schools. There are 16 dental schools in the UK, which is more than in France, Sweden, or Belgium.

It is also important to mention that the UK alcohol consumption index is surprisingly lower than one would expect. In the UK, the annual alcohol intake is 11.4 liters, while in Germany the annual number is 13.4 liters. These numbers were essential in the study since alcohol and sugar intake affect and speed up tooth decay.

4. Denmark

Denmark has been at the top of the list of countries with the best dentists for years now. And even with the ongoing pandemic and other obstacles, the dental care in this country has remained one of the best in the world.

According to the study, the dentists in Denmark are the 6th best in the world. There are 75 dentists per 100,000 people in only 2 dental facilities per the same number of people. Sure, the Danes do consume over 41kg of sugar annually and are known for a higher than average alcohol and cigarette consumption. But even so, the dental care is so good that an average citizen of Denmark has less than half a tooth to fix. There are 0.4 teeth being treated for tooth decay in Denmark in an average 12-year old child.

Other European Countries

When it comes to the top 10 ranking countries with best dentists, there is also Spain in the 3rd place, Sweden in the 4th place, France in the 8th place, Slovenia at the 9th place, and Finland in the 10t place. All of these countries provide exceptional dental care to their citizens and have some of the best dentists, as well as dental schools in the world.

Despite the high sugar, alcohol, and nicotine intake in the majority of these countries (except Slovenia where an average citizen only consumes 18kg of sugar per year), the dentists still manage to keep everyone’s teeth healthy and white.

The worst ranking country in this Study is Croatia, where an average citizen has 4 decaying teeth and a high sugar and alcohol intake which affects individual dental health. Even so, the number of dentists per 100,000 is 85, while there are only 3 dental facilities per the same number of people. However, even though Switzerland is ranking 15th on the list, it is considered the worst of all analyzed countries in regards to sugar consumption; an average Swiss consumes more than 50kg of sugar per year.

It is also important to mention that dentists in Greece are the most accessible to their citizens. There are 125 dentists per 100,000 people. Compared to some countries, like the Netherlands where 50 dentists are available per 100,000 people, we can say that you can literally find a dentist around every corner in Greece.

Countries With Best Dentists (Globally)

5. The United States

Some of the best dentists and dentist schools are found in the U.S. However, on a global scale, the U.S. dentists are ranking significantly lower than they used to. In the past few years, the U.S. dental care quality has dropped, but the quality of dentists has remained in the top 10 list (9th place on the global list). The reason for this lies in the national healthcare budget, especially the fact that funding was relocated to more essential health care services during the COVID-19. Even so, U.S. citizens are known to have some of the healthiest and straightest teeth, which is all thanks to the exceptional dentists.

6. Canada

Canada provides some of the best dental care in the world, and that is a known fact. For years now Canadian dentists have done such good work and kept Canada in the top 10 list of the countries with the best dental care. In Canada, children and adults have an average of 1 tooth that is decaying or requires attention. Also, adults on average have 1 tooth removed due to health issues.

In the past few years, Canada has ranked 7th place globally, but we do not have the current rank list due to a lack of research during the COVID-19 situation. There will be a list update during 2022 probably, considering that the dental care protocols are changing.

7. Mexico

Mexico is known to be one of the most visited countries in regards to dental tourism. The reason for this lies in the fact that the dentists are exceptional, while the prices of dental care procedures are really low, compared to the U.S. and Europe for example.

When it comes to the locals, people in Mexico are also known to take good care of their teeth and oral health. Despite a limited and low healthcare budget, dentists in Mexico manage to keep the oral hygiene of the citizens at the highest levels. That is because the focus of the healthcare budget in this country is more concentrated on different segments individually, rather than funding or relocating the fund to other healthcare segments.

Final Thoughts

Getting access to proper dental care is a big issue in the majority of the countries, worldwide. However, it is safe to say that the healthcare and dental care system is best-functioning in Europe. The quality of the dentists, as well as their availability to the citizens in Europe, is an excellent example of how dental care should work.

Unfortunately, that is not possible in countries that have low healthcare budget or are still developing. Even though European dental care may seem cheap to Europeans, it is quite expensive. The same goes for the U.S. and Canada, where prices for tooth fixing or a crown can go up to $1000.

Also, all is not gold in Europe as well. It is important to mention that many citizens of the European Union tend to go to European countries that are not members of the EU to get their teeth fixed. Even though countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Montenegro are not mentioned in studies, the dentists there are exceptional and very cheap. For that reason, thousands of people visit these countries to get high-level dental care for half the price they would pay in their home country.

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