The role of dental care providers in supplying services to people in Iran

In our country, different classes provide dental care services based on oral health status of people and public sectors plans and policies. Manpower estimation of dental care providers needs knowledge about the role of these classes in supplying dental services. Material &

This cross-sectional study conducted on about 24000 urban residents through urban population of the country showed relative frequency of providing dental cares by different classes to people's refers.

General practitioners with 75.79% were dental care providers who played the most important role in delivery of services in 1377. These results may be due to people's accessibility to different provider classes.

Changes in educational programs of dental schools based on community needs leads to efficient and enough dental professionals. Such programes coud make a change in people's referal patterns toward the suitable direction. In this condition every person refers to the most convenient dental care provider.