Zahnmedizin#

Dentistry: Dental medical care in Austria is practised by specialists in odontology, stomatology and orthodontics, in some cases by "Dentisten", experts in dentistry without academic training (since 1949 only university graduates have been licensed); in some rural areas, general practitioners working as dentists are still entitled to give dental medical care. After completing their medical studies, graduates (Dr. med.) have to do four semesters of special courses at the university hospitals in Vienna, Graz or Innsbruck, which are finally completed by a state medical examination. Dentists can set themselves up in private practice; 90 % work under contract of the health insurance agencies, who pay them for administering conservative and surgical dental treatment. In addition, they work at university hospitals and in dental outpatient departments of the health insurance agencies. In dental prosthetics the health insurance agencies are bound by contract to pay for plastic prostheses, metal prostheses (with a metal framework) and full metal crowns on brace teeth, while for all other dental therapies and treatments the insurance agencies cover only a small amount of the costs. There is no scale of fees for private dental treatment.

Dentists are members of the Austrian Medical Association. According to statistics, dental medical care in Austria is satisfactory (1 dentist for 2,300 persons), however, rural areas are disadvantaged compared to towns. At present (1995) a new curriculum for dentistry studies in accordance with the relevant EU Directives is being prepared.