Swedish Dental Care: What Expats Need to Know in 2025

Moving to a new country is a whirlwind of excitement, paperwork, and discovery. You meticulously sort out your visa, find a place to call home, and even start mastering the art of the Swedish fika. But then, one morning, it hits you—a dull ache in your back molar. Suddenly, a whole new system looms: healthcare. Specifically, dental care. How does it work? Is it expensive? Will they understand you?

If you're an expat in Sweden wrestling with these questions, take a deep breath. You've come to the right place. Navigating Swedish dental care might seem daunting at first, but it's a high-quality system with some fantastic benefits once you understand the rules. Let's break it down together, step by step, so you can feel confident and in control of your oral health in your new home.

The Foundation: Public vs. Private Dental Care

First things first, you have two main choices for dental care in Sweden. It’s not a simple "public is free, private is expensive" model like in some countries. The two systems are more intertwined than you might think.

1. Folktandvården (The Public Dental Service): This is the state-run dental service, operated by Sweden's regions. You’ll find Folktandvården clinics all over the country. They offer a full range of services, from routine check-ups to complex surgeries. They are known for their reliability and high standards.

2. Privattandläkare (Private Dentists): These are independent dental clinics. There are thousands of them, from small single-dentist practices to large, modern chains. They often offer more flexibility in scheduling, potentially shorter waiting lists, and sometimes a wider range of cosmetic treatments.

The most crucial thing to understand is that both public and private dentists are part of the same national dental insurance scheme. This means that as long as the clinic is affiliated with the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan), you are eligible for the same state subsidies regardless of whether you choose a public or private provider.

Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide:

The Golden Ticket: Your Personnummer

Before we dive into costs and subsidies, we need to talk about the most important number in your Swedish life: the personnummer (personal identity number). To be eligible for the state dental care subsidies, you must be officially registered as a resident in Sweden and have a personnummer.

If you're here on a short-term visa or are still waiting for your personnummer from the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket), you will have to pay the full, unsubsidized cost of any dental treatment. This is where private health insurance can be a lifesaver in your first few months. Once you have that magic number, you are automatically enrolled in the national dental insurance scheme.

Decoding the Costs: How the Tandvårdsstöd (State Subsidy) Works

This is where most expats get confused, so let's make it simple. For adults over 23, dental care is not free, but it is significantly subsidized by the state through a system called Statligt tandvårdsstöd. This support comes in three parts.

1. The General Dental Grant (Allmänt tandvårdsbidrag - ATB)

Think of this as a small dental voucher from the government that you receive every year on July 1st. You can use it for any type of dental care, from a check-up to a filling. The amount depends on your age.

• Ages 24-29: 600 SEK per year
• Ages 30-64: 300 SEK per year
• Ages 65 and over: 600 SEK per year

You don't need to apply for it; it's automatically available in the system. Just tell your dentist you want to use your tandvårdsbidrag. You can save it for two years, meaning you can combine two years' worth for a total of 600 SEK or 1200 SEK.

2. High-Cost Protection (Högkostnadsskydd)

This is the most important subsidy, especially if you need extensive or expensive dental work. It protects you from massive bills by having Försäkringskassan step in to cover a large portion of the cost once you pass certain thresholds within a 12-month period.

The system works based on a reference price (referenspris) set by the government for every dental procedure. If your dentist charges more than the reference price, you pay the difference yourself.

Here’s how the High-Cost Protection works in 2025, based on the latest available figures:

• You pay 100% of the costs up to 3,000 SEK.
• Försäkringskassan pays 50% of the costs between 3,001 SEK and 15,000 SEK.
• Försäkringskassan pays 85% of the costs above 15,000 SEK.

Let's look at a practical example. Imagine you need a crown and some fillings, and the total cost (based on the reference price) is 20,000 SEK.

• For the first 3,000 SEK: You pay the full amount (3,000 SEK).
• For the amount between 3,001 and 15,000 SEK (i.e., 12,000 SEK): You pay 50%. (0.50 x 12,000 = 6,000 SEK).
• For the amount above 15,000 SEK (i.e., 5,000 SEK): You pay 15%. (0.15 x 5,000 = 750 SEK).

Total cost to you: 3,000 + 6,000 + 750 = 9,750 SEK. Total subsidy from the state: 10,250 SEK.

Without this protection, you would have paid the full 20,000 SEK. It makes a huge difference.

3. The Special Dental Grant (Särskilt tandvårdsbidrag - STB)

This is a grant of 600 SEK per half-year for individuals with specific long-term illnesses or disabilities that increase their risk of dental problems. Your doctor would need to provide a certificate for you to be eligible.

Real-World Prices: What Can You Expect to Pay in 2025?

So, what does a trip to the dentist actually look like on your bank statement? Prices vary between clinics, but here is a general idea of what you might pay for common procedures before subsidies are applied. Always check the clinic's prislista (price list) beforehand.

Remember, these are the full prices. Your final out-of-pocket cost will be lower after applying your annual grant and any high-cost protection you qualify for.

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Finding and Seeing a Dentist

Feeling ready to make that appointment? Here’s how to do it.

1. Start with 1177.se: This is Sweden's national healthcare hub. Use their "Hitta vård" (Find Care) tool to search for dental clinics (tandläkare or tandvård) in your area. You can filter between Folktandvården and private clinics. The site is available in English and is an invaluable resource.

2. Check Waiting Lists (Väntetider): If you're looking to become a regular patient, be aware that many popular clinics, especially Folktandvården in Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö, have long queues. It's common to have to wait several months to get registered. Call around to different clinics to inquire about their availability for new patients.

3. Confirm They Speak English: While the vast majority of medical professionals in Sweden speak excellent English, it never hurts to confirm when you book, especially if you need to discuss a complex issue.

4. Ask for a Cost Estimate (Kostnadsförslag): For any treatment beyond a simple check-up, the dentist is required to give you a written cost estimate. This will detail the procedures, the reference prices, and what your final cost will be after subsidies. Don't be shy about asking for this!

5. Book Your Appointment (Boka tid): Most clinics offer online booking through their websites, or you can simply call them.

What About Dental Emergencies?

A sudden, severe toothache or a broken tooth can be scary. For akut tandvård (emergency dental care), your first step should be to call your regular dental clinic. They often have emergency slots reserved for their patients.

If it's outside of office hours or you don't have a regular dentist, call the national healthcare line at 1177. They can advise you on what to do and direct you to the nearest emergency dental clinic (jourhavande tandläkare). Be prepared for higher costs for emergency out-of-hours treatment.

The Final Question: Is Private Dental Insurance Worth It?

This is a common question among expats. The answer is: it depends.

You might consider private dental insurance if:

• You anticipate needing a lot of major dental work (e.g., multiple crowns, implants, or bridges) and want to cover the co-payment portion that the state subsidy doesn't.
• You don't have a personnummer yet and want coverage for the full cost of treatment.
• You simply want the peace of mind of having fixed, predictable dental costs each month.

You might not need it if:

• You have good oral health and only need routine check-ups.
• You are comfortable paying the co-payment amounts required by the Högkostnadsskydd system.

Several companies in Sweden offer private dental insurance (tandvårdsförsäkring), so it’s worth comparing plans and prices if you’re interested.

Your Takeaway

Navigating Swedish dental care is all about understanding the system. It’s a high-quality, reliable service that becomes much more affordable once you have your personnummer and get to grips with the state subsidy (tandvårdsstöd).

Remember these key points:

• Get your personnummer: It's your key to accessing subsidized care.
• Choose your path: Both Folktandvården (public) and affiliated private clinics offer state subsidies.
• Understand the costs: Know how the annual grant and high-cost protection work to save you money.
• Use 1177.se: It’s your best friend for finding clinics and information.

So go ahead and book that check-up. Your smile is in good hands here in Sweden.