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17-11-2022

Reimbursement applies to children’s dental treatment and preventive care

Iliustracija

The costs of the primary dental care services are covered from the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund (CHIF). They include both treatment and the necessary, although often neglected, preventive measures, which help evade tooth decay and other dental and mouth diseases. What the little patients need to do is address the medical facility they are registered with.

Receiving loads of inquiries on reimbursement for children’s dental treatment costs, Vilnius territorial health insurance fund (THIF) is kindly reminding that all facilities, offering family medicine services, that have an agreement with THIF, must ensure that all registered patients receive reimbursed primary dental care services. They can be provided by the family medicine facility itself, and if not, by another medical facility, which has an agreement regarding primary dental care services for registered patients with the person's GP facility. Family medicine facilities must provide their patients with clear information on where they can get their dental treatment.

The said medical facilities must provide minor children and youth under 24 years old, enrolled in full-time general education or vocational studies, with emergency, treatment and preventive dental care. Thus, children and youth do not have to pay for such services as treatment of dental decay, tooth nerve or gum inflammation, and other diseases of the teeth, jaw, gums, tongue and oral mucosa, extraction of teeth and their roots, determining the risk of precancerous diseases, placement of temporary braces in the treatment of dental injuries, etc.

Vilnius THIF would like to draw attention not only to the reimbursed dental treatment for the little patients. Many other preventive mouth hygiene services for children can be reimbursed too in order to prevent or minimise these issues. Once a year, children should receive a free evaluation of their dental hygiene skills, taught proper hygiene and offered the needed preventive measures.

n addition to that, once a year, children aged 13-18 can receive reimbursed professional oral hygiene services, which involve the assessment of the condition of the mouth, plaque removal, polishing, etc. In this case, if needed, smaller children (under 13 years old) can have the plaque removal from above and under the gums as often as needed, if prescribed by a doctor.

Other reimbursed preventive services, offered to children include dental sealing. CHIF-covered dental sealing can be provided to children from the eruption of the first permanent molars until they are 14 years old. The surface of healthy permanent molars is covered with a sealant – a special material that prevents bacteria and carbohydrates from entering the furrows and grooves of the teeth, thus protecting the teeth from decay. Sealant covers last for up to 10-15 years. It is also important to assess the bite and, if needed, prescribe preventive measures.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned and some other primary dental care services for minor children and youth under 24 years old, enrolled in full-time general education or vocational studies, must be provided without co-payments only if they apply to a polyclinic or a health centre that they are registered with. These patients do not need to pay for the services, analgesia, fillings or other dental materials, unless they choose the more expensive than those, covered by CHIF. Primary dental care services do not require a referral from a general physician.

(Pexels pict.)

The NHIF invites you:

Your questions are welcome by email[email protected]or phone: local (8 5) 232 2222, international +370 5 232 2222

Last updated: 16-01-2023

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