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Understand the costs of your dental bill

Do the rates of treatment differ per dentist?
There are fixed rates for procedures performed by the dentist. These have been determined by the Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa). It is possible that different costs will be charged for the same treatment. This is due to the extra procedures that come with a treatment. For example, one patient may like to be sedated when drilling a hole, and another may not. In that case, extra costs must be paid for anesthesia.

Are dentists obliged to state the costs of treatment in advance?
If the cost of a treatment exceeds 250 euros, the dentist is obliged to provide a budget in advance. You can always ask your dentist for a budget or cost estimate yourself if you want to know how much you will lose.

How do I know which rate belongs to which treatment?
All procedures performed by the dentist during treatment are listed separately on the invoice. Each transaction has its own code with its own rate.

Which dental costs are reimbursed?
Oral care is included in the basic insurance for young people up to the age of 18. All treatments with the exception of crowns, bridges and braces are reimbursed. For adults, the basic insurance covers the costs of dental surgery by a dental surgeon, X-rays, removable dentures and, if indicated, click teeth. More treatments are reimbursed when you take out additional insurance. Which treatments and how much you are reimbursed differs per health insurer.

Is a second opinion possible and are there costs involved?
If you as a patient have doubts about the diagnosis or the treatment suggested by your dentist, you can ask for alternatives. But you can also request a second opinion from another dentist. There are costs involved. These have also been determined by the NZa.