Hammashoito: dental care
Dental healthcare services in Finland available through public health centers, private clinics, and occupational health.
Detailed explanation
The Finnish dental care system has three main pathways:
Public dental care (julkinen hammashoito): Public dental clinics, run by wellbeing services counties (hyvinvointialue; the city of Helsinki runs its own), offer subsidized dental services to all residents. Fees are regulated and lower than private care, but waiting times can be long, especially for non-urgent treatment.
Private dental care (yksityinen hammashoito): Private dental clinics offer faster access and often more flexible scheduling, but at higher prices. Kela provides partial reimbursement for most treatments.
Occupational dental care (työterveyshuollon hammashoito): Some employers include dental services in their occupational healthcare package. Coverage varies significantly by employer.
Unlike in some countries, dental care for adults is not included in the same system as general healthcare. You typically need to actively seek and book dental appointments, and costs are higher than for other health services.
How it affects expats
- Not included in basic healthcare: Dental care requires separate arrangements and payments
- Registration may be needed: For public dental care, you typically need to register with your health center
- Long wait times: Public dental clinics often have waits of several months for non-urgent care
- Higher costs: Dental care is one of the more expensive healthcare items in Finland
- Check occupational health: Your employer's occupational health package may include dental services
- Kela reimbursement: Available for private dental care, though coverage is limited
Public dental care
Access:
- Available to all residents registered in a Finnish municipality
- Book through your local health center (terveysasema)
- Contact by phone, online, or in person
Costs (2026):
- Dentist examination visit: up to about 19 EUR (19.10 EUR in some counties, 19.20 EUR in others)
- Procedures are charged by class, starting from about 12.30 EUR
- Exact prices are in your county's fee list
Waiting times:
- Emergency care: Same day or next day
- Routine checkups: 3-6 months
- Non-urgent treatment: Can be several months
Eligibility:
- Children and young adults (under 18) have priority access
- Pregnant women have priority access
- Adults may face longer waits
Private dental care
Advantages:
- Shorter waiting times
- More flexible scheduling (evenings, weekends)
- Choice of dentist
- Often more modern facilities
Costs:
- Examination: 50-100 EUR
- Fillings: 100-200 EUR
- Root canal: 400-800 EUR
- Crown: 600-1,200 EUR
- Cleaning: 80-150 EUR
Kela reimbursement:
- Covers part of the cost (approximately 15-30%)
- Applied automatically at some clinics
- Or claim reimbursement afterwards through OmaKela
Occupational dental care
Check if your employer provides dental services:
- Some employers include full dental care
- Others offer basic checkups only
- Many offer no dental benefits
- Check with HR about your coverage
- If included, usually no cost to employee
Finding a dentist
Public:
- Contact your local terveysasema
- Use your wellbeing services county's (or the city of Helsinki's) online booking system
- Call the health center dental unit directly
Private:
- Large chains: Mehiläinen, Terveystalo, Oral
- Independent clinics: Search online or ask for recommendations
- International clinics: Some in Helsinki cater to expats and offer English service
Emergency dental care
Dental emergencies include:
- Severe toothache
- Dental abscess or infection
- Broken tooth from accident
- Lost filling causing pain
Where to go:
- Public: Health center dental emergency line
- Private: Many clinics have emergency appointments
- Evenings/weekends: Special dental emergency clinics in major cities
Emergency costs:
- Public emergency: approximately 20 EUR
- Private emergency: 100-200 EUR (plus treatment costs)
Dental care for children
- Free dental care for all children under 18
- Provided through public system
- Regular checkups and preventive care
- Orthodontic assessment included
- Treatment provided as needed
Tips for managing dental costs
- Regular checkups: Prevention is cheaper than treatment
- Compare prices: Private clinic prices vary significantly
- Ask about payment plans: Many clinics offer installment options
- Claim Kela reimbursement: Don't forget to apply for your refund
- Check employer benefits: Use occupational dental if available
- Consider dental insurance: Private insurance can reduce costs
Related terms
- Terveysasema (Health Center): Public health center providing primary healthcare services to residents of Finnish municipalities
- Occupational Healthcare: Employer-provided healthcare
- Kela: Finland's Social Insurance Institution
- Apteekin Resepti (Prescription): Electronic or paper prescription required to obtain prescription medications from Finnish pharmacies