The Public Dental Service
The Public Dental Service in Trøndelag is an integrated part of the Norwegian public health system and provides comprehensive dental care to the population across the county. The service is publicly owned and operated by Trøndelag County Authority and is based on long-term planning, stable funding and clearly defined professional standards. Dental treatment is delivered according to national regulations and clinical guidelines, with a strong emphasis on quality, patient safety and continuity of care.
Treatment
In Trøndelag, the Public Dental Service treats all patient groups. In addition to children, adolescents and prioritized groups defined by Norwegian law, adult patients are also treated on a regular basis. Adult dentistry in the public sector includes examinations, preventive care, fillings, crowns, root canal treatment, extractions, dentures and long-term follow-up, comparable to what is offered in private practice. Adult patients pay regulated fees, similar to private dentistry, and many choose the public service because of continuity, predictable organization and close cooperation with other public health services.
Organisation
The dental service in Trøndelag consists of 53 clinics distributed throughout the county. Clinics are located both in urban areas and in smaller towns and rural communities. This structure ensures good access to dental care for patients and gives dental professionals a wide choice of workplaces. Some clinics are larger units with several dentists and dental hygienists, while others are smaller local clinics serving stable patient populations. All clinics are part of the same public organization, with shared systems, professional networks and continuing education.
Dentists and dental hygienists working in the Public Dental Service are salaried employees with regulated working hours, pension schemes and predictable employment conditions. The working model supports collaboration, professional development and a clear separation between work and private life. For many, this provides a more balanced everyday life compared to purely production-based private practice.
Living in Trøndelag
Trøndelag offers a combination of professional stability and a high quality of life. Outside working hours, nature is easily accessible, whether you live in a city or in a rural area. Hiking, fishing, skiing and outdoor activities are part of everyday life for many residents. Commute times are generally short, housing costs are lower outside the largest cities, and family life is well supported by public services.
For those considering moving to Norway, the Public Dental Service in Trøndelag represents a transparent, well-organized and professional dental system. It offers the opportunity to work with a broad patient base, practice modern dentistry within a public framework, and live in a region where work-life balance is not a slogan but a practical reality.
Norwegian authorization
Dental professionals who hold an authorization from an EU or EEA country can have their professional qualifications recognized in Norway. Norway follows EU and EEA regulations on mutual recognition of professional qualifications, which means that dentists and dental hygienists educated and authorized within the EU generally meet the formal requirements for Norwegian authorization. The approval process is handled by the Norwegian health authorities and is based on documentation of education, professional authorization and identity. For most EU-educated dentists, the process is straightforward and does not require additional clinical training. Knowledge of Norwegian is required in order to practice, but language training can be completed before or after relocation, depending on individual circumstances.
About Trøndelag
Trøndelag County Authority is one of the region’s largest and most multidisciplinary competence organisations.
We work actively to build and develop Trøndelag, operate upper secondary schools, provide public dental health services, and are responsible for county roads, public transport, and ferry and boat traffic.
There are many opportunities, and as an employee of Trøndelag County Authority, you help build a region. All our available positions in dentistry can be found here.
The organisation policy
The organisation policy builds on Trøndelag’s vision, which is ‘We create history.’ The policy describes the values, attitudes, and actions that the organisation stands for. It is intended to help the organisation reach its goals and support us in looking ahead toward expected and future challenges.
Everyone who works in the county authority helps maintain the organisation’s reputation. We aim to provide good services to the public and be a constructive partner for businesses and other public actors. Our reputation is formed at the intersection between expectations of us and experiences with us — and it is something we create together.
Want to know more?
Jan Kristoff Bensch, Deputy Chief county dental officer,
Bjørnar Hafell, Chief county dental officer,