The Norwegian Government renders extensive dental services to the public. For these services many dentists are needed. They are, however, not always available. Especially the Northern provinces, where the climate is hard, have a great shortage of dentists. While in Oslo one dentist cares for an average of 650 inhabitants, in Finmark his colleague has to look after 13.000 people. To cover the shortage the Norwegian Parliament approved, on 2 1st June 1956, a “Provisional Act Relating to Obligatory Public Service for Dentists”.