Before this, two active Helsinki dentists, Axel Aspelund and Theodor Weber, had independently treated schoolchildren between 1907 and 1924, with funding from the City of Helsinki.
Dental care for schoolchildren was further strengthened when the law on free school dental care for elementary pupils entered into force in 1957.
In 1972, public dental care was extended to cover specific population groups outside schools. In the early 2000s, age limits were abolished, and oral health care has served the entire population of Helsinki ever since.
Today, Helsinki residents receive dental care at 27 clinics across the city. Oral health care services currently employ around 750 professionals. In 2024, approximately 460,000 visits were made to City of Helsinki dental clinics.
Services provided by professionals
The first 100 years of oral health care were celebrated on 20 November at the Koskenranta event centre.
–This marks an entire century of knowledge, change, development and, above all, people. People who have dedicated their careers to promoting oral health, bridging health gaps and improving the wellbeing of Helsinki residents, said Deputy Mayor for Social Services, Health Care and Rescue Services Maarit Vierunen in her speech at Koskenranta.
–We want to celebrate all of you who have contributed to building this history – working countless hours, seeing patients and taking responsibility for the health of Helsinki residents, Vierunen continued.
–We have continued the hard work of oral health care pioneers in the City of Helsinki, with good results. Our client base has expanded from schoolchildren to the entire population. Our patients receive high-quality oral health care from us, and we have good reason to be proud of that, said City of Helsinki Director of Oral Health Care Sebastian Kaste at the ceremony.
Happy 100 years of oral health care in Helsinki, and good luck for the next 100 years!
