[A new era in acute dental care: organizational changes and legal implications]

Acute dental care requires timely intervention to prevent complications. Although dentists continue to be responsible for the continuity and accessibility of care during out-of-hours periods under the Dutch Healthcare Quality, Complaints and Disputes Act (Wkkgz) and the Medical Treatment Contracts Act (WGBO), the practical organization of such care is increasingly under pressure. The emergence of dedicated dental emergency practices has led to a shift from collective participation in regional on-call cooperatives towards the delegation of emergency services. While this organizational transition does not alter the professional standard of care, it does entail significant legal and operational consequences. Insufficient contractual arrangements, unclear triage procedures and inadequate communication can lead to delays in care and increased liability risks. A coordinated national framework is needed to ensure coverage, accessibility and quality of acute dental care are warranted in a sustainable and uniform manner.