Dental care

Reimbursements are available for the cost of dental and oral treatment provided by a dentist in private practice, treatment provided by dental hygienist on a dentist’s referral, the cost of laboratory and radiology tests prescribed by a dentist, and the cost of travel required to obtain dental treatment.

No reimbursement is available for the following items:

• dental care obtained from public-sector providers
• prosthetic procedures such as the manufacture or repair of removable dentures
• dental crowns, bridges or implants (exception: front-veterans and mine clearance workers)
• the services of a dental technician (exception: front-veterans and mine clearance workers)
• orthodontic procedures (can be reimbursed under special circumstances)
• periods in which you are being treated in a public hospital or institution.

Amount of the reimbursement

Kela reimburses 60 % of private dentists' fees. Maximum limits on the reimbursable fees are specified in a schedule of fixed charges (in Finnish). Costs for oral and dental examinations can be reimbursed once per calendar year.

Costs for laboratory and radiology tests prescribed by a dentist are reimbursed at a rate of 75 %. Maximum limits on the reimbursable costs are specified in a schedule of fixed charges (in Finnish). There is also a copayment of EUR 13.46. Only one copayment is assessed for tests prescribed at the same time. The reimbursement rate on dental hygienists' services is 100%.

Dental treatment of front-veterans and mine clearance workers

Front veterans and mine clearance workers are entitled to the following reimbursements of dental expenses:

• up to 100 % of dental examinations, preventive care and the clinical part of prosthetic work (according to a schedule of fixed charges)

• up to 50 % of the technical part of prosthetic work (according to a schedule of fixed charges)

• 100 % of the clinical part and 50 % of the tehcnical part of complete denture care provided by a specialist dental technician on the basis of a referal by a dentist (according to a schedule of fixed charges)

• 60 % of the costs of other dental care (according to a schedule of fixed charges).

Front-veterans must be in possession of a front-veteran's, front-line service, veteran's or fortification corps badge. Mine clearance workers must have certification from the Military Archives. A Kela photocard marked with "R" or "MR" can also be used to access dental care.