Going to the dentist regularly may be a matter of course for some, while others may be a little more reluctant. It may be due to fear of the dentist, but also the fear of the amount that is on the bill afterwards. Since it came to Norway in 2016, the offer of dental health insurance has increased. Din tannsforsikring, Norsk tannhelseforsikring and If are among the players that offer the insurance. None of the companies wants to tell news how many customers have taken out such insurance. But Norsk Tannhelseforsikring is aiming for a total of 100,000 customers in Norway and Sweden during this year. But what does such insurance cover? – It covers unforeseen dental costs you may incur when you have been to the dentist, or if you are unfortunate enough to have suffered an injury, says Frøydis Øien, sales manager at Norsk Tannhelseforsikring. Frøydis Øien, sales manager at Norsk Tannhelseforsikring. Photo: Privat Doesn’t cover everything She says the teeth generally wear down over their lifetime, but that you may need extra treatment. – You may get a hole in your teeth, break a tooth or need a root canal. Then the insurance covers it. But the insurance does not cover everything. – There are some exceptions. For example, known dental treatment needs such as the removal of wisdom teeth. The insurance must also be taken out before the damage has occurred. If you already have holes in your teeth, the insurance will not cover this, says Øien. – Can rather be put in a savings account – The Dental Association is neither for nor against dental health insurance, but registers that there is a need in view of the increase in the market. We know that many people think the costs at the dentist are too high. That’s what Camilla Hansen Steinum, head of the Norwegian Dental Association, says. Head of the Norwegian Dental Association, Camilla Hansen Steinum. Photo: The Norwegian Dental Association She emphasizes that it is important that you understand what you are buying. – It is important that the patient himself assesses his own situation and is careful about the terms of these insurance policies. We are very concerned about patients making an informed choice. Steinum believes that you can get a lot back in order to save the sum the insurance costs each month. – If you are unsure whether it is something you need, you can instead put the monthly sum in a savings account. Then you can rather spend that money on something else, if you don’t need it for dental health in the future, she says. After the collaboration LOfavør, a benefit program for people who are organized in LO confederations, offered dental health insurance to its members from 2017. Adviser and responsible for LOfavør, Jakob Tveit. Photo: Bjørn Atle Gildestad / news But in 2021 it was over. – We did not get enough members to use the membership benefit so that the price defended itself, says Jakob Tveit, responsible for LOfavør. Not heard about the insurance Judith Izurieta, a student at the University of Stavanger, goes to the dentist regularly. She has never heard of dental insurance before. – I have a 100 percent job, so I can afford to go to the dentist when needed. But I have never heard of the insurance before. For her friend Ida Heggland, the dentist is not something she places high on the priority list. Ida Heggland and Judith Izurieta had not heard of dental health insurance before. Photo: Andrea Mælumshagen Molland / news – I think it’s expensive, so it’s not something I want to spend money on. You don’t go to the doctor if you’re not sick, either, she says. Are there other benefits – It is important that the patient is aware that the dentist can help to contribute with public benefits. Folketrygden’s benefit scheme provides support for certain conditions, such as gum disease or other things, explains Steinum. She thinks one of the smartest things is to be good at prevention. – The most important thing is to be good at brushing your teeth at home, preferably with fluoride rinse and floss. Going to the dentist regularly is important. If there is a long time between each visit, it can be expensive.
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