Dental care is an important health sector around Europe which might call for more consumer assessment and information. Lecturing Monday at the European forum for dentistry as a liberal profession in the European parliament Johan Hjertqvist indicated that the 2007 Euro Health Consumer Index might pay more attention to dental services. A potential indicator could be the share of the older population still carrying their natural teeth, the Health Consumer Powerhouse president suggested.

When forces are gathering to influence the process of the health service market directive the European dentists seem to favour a free market approach. This would be quite rational, as dentistry already is a frontrunner changing the perception of care services. "Health tourism" often is equal to combining affordable dental treatment with a holiday trip. Nowhere has competition, transparency and consumer influence grown this
strong.