Norway proposes dental reform to cap patient costs at 25 percent

The Norwegian government has proposed a dental health reform aimed at providing the entire population with the right to necessary dental treatment through public support. Under the plan, patients would be responsible for a maximum of 25 percent of the costs, including orthodontic treatment.

One aspect of the proposal involves shifting the responsibility for orthodontics to the counties in the long term. The Norwegian Association of Orthodontists (NKF) has expressed concerns regarding this plan, warning that the government may have significantly underestimated the costs. The NKF argues that moving responsibility to the counties could result in far fewer children receiving treatment than they do under the current system, which relies on private specialists and national insurance subsidies.

Currently, the National Insurance Scheme provides subsidies for orthodontic treatment, but these payments have remained relatively stagnant since 2012 despite rising prices. The government estimates that making orthodontics free would cost between 800 million and 1 billion NOK, while the NKF suggests that increasing existing subsidies might be a more effective way to ensure equitable access and short waiting times.