The Danish government is considering a proposal that could give adults over the age of 21 access to public funds for dental care. The plan, known as a “dental account” or tandkonto, would allow people to use money from a government-managed account to pay for yearly dental check-ups.
Health Minister Sophie Løhde told the broadcaster DR that the goal is to encourage more Danes to visit the dentist regularly. “We want more Danes to go to the dentist regularly so we can avoid small problems becoming big ones,” Løhde said.
It is not yet clear whether the proposal would apply to all residents of Denmark, including foreign nationals who have access to the public health system, or only Danish citizens. Politicians often use the term danskerne (“the Danes”) to refer to the general public.
The proposal comes as the government works on a new model for public dental care. Under the plan, the amount of money available would depend on the patient’s age but would be enough to cover at least one dental check-up per year. For example, young adults aged 22 to 25 could receive 600 kroner annually, according to DR.
The government does not plan to increase overall state spending on dental care. Instead, it wants to reallocate the 1.6 billion kroner currently spent on state subsidies. The money would be distributed more broadly across the population rather than being focused on more serious procedures.
In addition to the dental account, the Health Ministry plans to introduce price limits on different types of treatments. The ministry also wants to create a digital platform where people can check treatment prices and see what services are available locally. These measures aim to make dental care more accessible and transparent for everyone.
The idea of a dental account has received support from both the Danish Dental Association (Tandlægeforeningen) and regional health authorities. Both groups have previously endorsed schemes that allow public funds to cover dental treatments.
Torben Schønwaldt, chair of the Danish Dental Association, told the industry journal Tandlægebladet that the proposal could improve dental health across Denmark. “Our hope is that a dental account will motivate more people to visit the dentist and, in turn, improve dental health,” he said.
If implemented, the dental account could represent a significant shift in how Denmark funds preventive dental care. By encouraging regular check-ups, the government hopes to reduce long-term dental problems and make care more affordable for the public.