Dental care

Reimbursement is provided by the public health insurance scheme. Adults typically pay 60 per cent of the agreed fees. No subsidy is granted for dentures.

Municipal and regional dental services are regulated by the health legislation. In addition, approximately 1.9 million Danes are covered by a private insurance scheme. Some schemes provide subsidies for dental treatment.

Children and young people under 18 years of age receive free municipal dental care including orthodontic treatment. Children under 16 years of age who wish to have treatment that is not provided free of charge by the municipal council, may – by paying a user charge – choose to be treated in a private clinic of their own choice or at a public dental clinic in another municipality. From 1 January 2016, elderly people who live in a nursing home or in their own home with technical aids are offered dental care for which there is a maximum annual charge of DKK 490. In addition, the municipalities provide a subsidy for dentures in cases of impaired function or disfigurement resulting from damage caused by accidents.

The municipality offers specialist dental treatment to persons who because of psychiatric illness or mental health disorders cannot use the existing dental services for children and young people, for adults, or for people needing special care. For these services, the region, from 1 January 2016, charges the patient a maximum of DKK 1 815 per year.

The region offers specialized dental care (regional dental service) or highly specialized dental care (in dental research centres) to children and young people with dental conditions that would lead to a permanent reduction in function if left untreated.

In addition, the region grants a special reimbursement for dental care for cancer patients, who either due to radiation of the head and neck or due to chemotherapy suffers from considerable documented dental problems, and to persons who due to Sjögren’s syndrome suffer from considerable documented dental problems. From 1 January 2016, the region can demand a user payment of a maximum of DKK 1 815 annually for these services. Finally, the region provides highly specialized dental advice, examination and treatment (in dental research centres) for patients with rare diseases and disabilities, for whom the underlying disease can lead to special problems with their teeth, mouth or jaws.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery are carried out in hospitals and are paid for by the regions in accordance with the health legislation.

In addition to the general rules outlined above, the municipalities can provide support for necessary dental treatment in accordance with the legislation relating to social services.

Dental treatment is mainly provided by private dentists. Payment is therefore partly private, and partly subsidized (about half of the costs) by the public services. The specific amount of the subsidy is regulated by the agreement between the home rule government and the Faroese Dental Association. There is no maximum user charge for dental treatment, as there is for subsidized pharmaceutical products.

The municipalities provide a free dental service for children up to the age of 18. Until 2014, this service applied only to children up to the age of 16, but the age limit was raised in 2014. This service also provides special dental care, such as orthodontic treatment.

Reimbursement of expenses for treatment of congenital diseases or disease-related dental conditions can be claimed according to the social legislation.

All public dental care is free of charge. There is limited access to private dentists. All private dental treatment is paid for by the patient.

There is a basic user charge of EUR 10.30 per visit for dental treatment at a health centre, EUR 13.30 per visit to a dentist, and EUR 19.40 for a visit to a specialist. In addition to this, user charges of EUR 8.50-225.50 can be charged, dependent on the type of treatment provided.

The health insurance scheme reimburses 60 per cent of the treatment costs within the rates fixed by the Social Insurance Institution for one annual dental examination in the private dental service. Orthodontic treatment is only reimbursed if the treatment is necessary to prevent other illnesses. Expenditure on dentures and dental laboratory costs are not included in the reimbursement scheme.

Expenses for laboratory and x-ray examinations ordered by a dentist are refundable. Expenses for drugs prescribed by a dentist and travelling costs to visit a dentist are refundable under the same terms as for medical prescriptions and travelling costs to visit a physician.

All public dental treatment for persons under 19 years of age is free of charge. For others, the user charge for a dental visit is EUR 15 with additional standard fees for treatment and examinations. The patient pays the actual cost of orthodontic treatment and prosthetic treatment. The same rules as in Finland apply for treatment by private dentists.

Dental treatment is mainly provided by private dentists and adults are not eligible for reimbursement of dental expenses. However, the National Health Insurance offers partial reimbursement of the cost for dental treatment for pensioners, disabled people and people suffering from chronic illness.

Children’s dental care is fully paid by the National Health Insurance, except for an annual appointment charge of ISK 2 500. The condition for the payment contribution is that a child is registered with a family dentist.

Orthodontic treatment is not covered by the agreement. Subsidies for orthodontic treatment can reach ISK 150 000 according to special rules. However, 95 per cent of the cost of orthodontic treatment of serious congenital disfiguration and serious anomalies and of the damage caused by accidents and illnesses, are reimbursed according to special rules.

Adults over 20 years of age normally pay all costs for dental treatment. When dental treatment is needed because of defined diseases, conditions, injuries, the patient can receive reimbursement/benefit from the National Insurance Scheme.

The public dental service offers free treatment to the following groups: children and young people under the age of 18 years, people with mental disabilities, elderly people, people with chronic illnesses and disabled people who are either living in institutions or receiving home nursing services and other groups of people with special needs, e.g. people in prison.

Adolescents 19-20 years of age receive subsidised dental care. The county authorities cover a minimum of 75 per cent of the cost of dental treatment for this group, and the cost is eligible for user charge card. The National Insurance Scheme covers the cost of necessary orthodontic treatment for children up to the age of 18.

The dental care benefits system consists of seven different types of general and specific allowances including a general high-cost protection scheme. The maximum user charge is 3 000 SEK per year (2021). Above this level, the high-cost protection scheme offers compensation. The general dental care grant is 300 SEK or 600 SEK depending on age. The grant is aimed at regular check-ups and dental health prevention among adults. A specific grant is for patients with increased risk of developing dental problems due to certain diseases or disabilities.

The regional health authorities have a special responsibility to promote dental health among children and youth. Dental care is free of charge under the age of 24 in most regions. Health regions also provide dental care to individuals with special needs, illness or disability, and specialist dental care for adults.