Abstract
This study was aimed at surveying the distribution of dental hygienists and their job identification
in a primary care unit (PCU) in 2006. Also, a dental health workforce database of the Division of Dental
Health, Department of Health, was updated for 2006, using a questionnaire survey on the working status of dental nurses dispatched to 450 PCUs in Thailand’s 75 provinces. Almost all (94.9%) responded to the
questionnaire. The analysis revealed that 97 percent of the dental nurses in Thailand in 2006 were working
under the Ministry of Public Health and 95.9 percent of their workplaces were outside Bangkok. These
included 55.7 percent working in community hospitals and 32.5 percent in PCUs. The ratio nationwide of
dental nurses increased from 1:21,331 in 2002 to 1:16,883 in 2006, excluding Bangkok. Among those working
in PCUs, the workload of those involved in oral health care to other types of care was 3:1 in terms of
time sharing. The proportion of jobs in curative care, promotion and prevention, and proactive services
was cited as 3:1:1. With regard to workforce in capacity-building, training is required in (1) oral health
promotion and proactive activities, (2) oral health prevention and disease control, (3) health literacy and
communication, (4) project planning, management and evaluation according to local priorities, and (5)
first-aid treatment.
