[The Data Stations project: a monitor of dental practice in The Netherlands].

Since 1995 the Dutch Dental Association (NMT) has carried out research on, in particular, the non-clinical aspects of dental practice with the Data Stations project. At present, within this research project 5 studies are conducted on a regular basis: the Dental Consumption Study, the Dental Practice Study, the Omnibus Survey, the Young Dentist Study and the Quality of Oral Care Study. From the results of this research project it appears that during the last decades dentists have increasingly been working cooperatively. This is expressed in dental practices with more dentists and more staff workers, with more dental chairs and more patients. The length of the working week, however, has changed very little over the years. Among both young people and adults gradual changes have taken place in dental consumption during the period 1997-2011. By intensifying the collaboration with clinical dental researchers the scope of the research within this project can be expanded to include the quality of oral care and the effects of care which has been provided on oral health in The Netherlands.