Interacting forces influencing private dental practice in South Africa: implications for dental education.

Delivery of oral care in SA The South African population can broadly be divided into two major markets as far the delivery of dentistry is concerned (Table 1): 20% of the population is being treated in the private sector comprising approximately 70% of the dental practitioners, while the remaining 80% is being treated in the public sector by approximately 30% of the available dental practitioners 2 . Dental services in the public sector can be described as satisfying a basic need for the relief of pain and sepsis, as well as primary dental care such as simple restorations and dentures. In the private sector, however, dental treatment is mainly driven by guaranteed payment by third party insurers (medical funds) for services rendered by a dentist.