Healthcare & Family

Dental care, free for kids, costly for adults

Updated July 2026Reviewed July 2026
The one-line versionDental care is free for everyone under 22, but adults pay most of the cost themselves - the public subsidy is small. Budget for it, and consider supplementary insurance.

The under-22 rule

Here is the sharp divide in Danish dentistry: free for children and young people under 22 (via the municipal dental service, kommunal tandpleje), and largely out-of-pocket for adults. The free coverage for under-22s was phased in from 2022, so young adults are now covered where they once were not.

What adults pay

For adults, the public health insurance gives only a small subsidy (tilskud) toward check-ups and basic treatments like fillings and extractions - you pay most of the bill yourself. Rough 2026 costs:

TreatmentTypical adult cost
Check-up and cleaningDKK 600-2,000+
FillingDKK 800-2,500
CrownDKK 5,000-8,000

Cosmetic work, crowns and implants are largely unsubsidised. Those aged 18-25 can get extra municipal support in some cases.

Supplementary dental insurance is commonBecause adult dental care is the biggest gap in the otherwise-free system, many people join a supplementary scheme - Sygeforsikring danmark (from a modest quarterly fee) or a union/private dental insurance (tandlaegeforsikring) - to claw back part of the cost. If you expect dental work, it usually pays for itself.
This surprises newcomers mostPeople arrive expecting Danish healthcare to be free across the board and are caught out by the dentist. It is the one everyday cost to budget for as an adult. Register with a dentist (tandlaege) early and price a check-up so there are no surprises.

Common questions

Is dental care free?
Free for under-22s via the municipal service. Adults pay most of the cost, with only a small public subsidy.
How much is a check-up?
Roughly DKK 600-2,000+ for an adult check-up and cleaning; fillings and crowns cost more.
Should I get dental insurance?
Many do - Sygeforsikring danmark or private dental cover offsets the biggest gap in the system. Worthwhile if you expect treatment.

Verified July 2026 against official sources: lifeindenmark.borger.dk, sundhed.dk, the Danish Health Authority (sst.dk), Statens Serum Institut and municipal pages. Figures are 2026 levels and vary by region and municipality. General information, not medical advice.

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