All children and young people residing in Norway have the right to free dental care from the public dental service. This right applies until the end of the calendar year they turn 21.
Who is entitled to free dental treatment?
The following groups are covered by the public dental service under tannhelsetjenesteloven (the Dental Service Act):
- Children and young people from age 0 through the calendar year they turn 21 (priority groups 1–3)
- People with intellectual disabilities (all ages)
- Patients in home care, institutional care, or prison
- Young people aged 19–20 pay 25 % of the fees (not completely free)
Newly arrived children: You have the right to free dental care from the day you are registered in the population registry as a resident of the municipality. There is no requirement for length of residence.
Age limit: free coverage through the calendar year you turn 21
This means:
- If you turn 20 during the calendar year: free treatment throughout that calendar year
- If you turn 21 during the calendar year: 25 % copay throughout that calendar year (no longer completely free)
- If you turn 22 or older: public dental care costs full price (you pay everything), but some may receive reimbursement through HELFO for specific treatments
Public dental service vs. private dentist
Public dental service (The municipal dental clinic / Dental service):
- Run by the county authority
- Children and young people are invited for regular check-ups (normally every 1–2 years)
- Free examinations, preventive care, and necessary treatment
- You may receive an invitation by mail – make sure the municipality has your correct address
Private dentist:
- May be used instead of the public clinic
- Children under 18 years may under certain conditions have treatment reimbursed (covered by the public) via HELFO rates
- Private dentists are usually more expensive than public, and reimbursement does not always cover the full amount
- Young people aged 18–20 receive only partial reimbursement (the 25 % rule applies here)
What is covered and what does it cost?
For children ages 0–18 (0 % copay):
- Examinations and X-rays
- Preventive care (cleaning, fluoride treatment, sealants)
- Fillings
- Orthodontic treatment – but only if medically indicated
- Tooth extractions
For young people ages 19–20 (25 % copay):
- Same treatments, but you pay 25 % of the public fee
What is NOT covered (regardless of age):
- Cosmetic dental treatment (whitening, veneers without medical reason)
- Orthodontic treatment without medical indication
- Certain prosthetic work (bridges, implants) without special indication
Newly arrived children: do they have rights from day one?
Yes – from the day the child is registered in the population registry as a resident of a Norwegian municipality, they have the right to services from the public dental service. This applies to:
- Refugee children
- Children with collective protection (such as Ukrainian children)
- Children of migrant workers
- Children being reunited with family in Norway
Check with your county's dental service that the child is registered and will be invited. It may take some time for the invitation to arrive – you can contact them directly and book an appointment.
What do you do if your child has not been invited?
- Contact the local dental clinic – find contact information from your county or on helsenorge.no
- Check that your address in the population registry is updated – the invitation is sent to your registered address
- Does the child have special needs? Inform them of this when you contact them
- Private alternative: You can use a private dentist and apply for reimbursement via HELFO
For more information about health rights, see helsenorge app: your digital health portal.
How to use the public dental service
The public dental service for children is managed by the county authority (or Helse-Nord where applicable). You do not need to register in advance – the system automatically sends an invitation to the child at the address where you live. Usually children are invited once or twice a year for check-ups and prophylaxis (cleaning).
If you do not receive an invitation, you can contact the dental service directly. To find the nearest dental clinic: use klinikkfinneren.no, which is a public database of all public and private dental facilities in Norway. There you can also see opening hours, what services are offered, and whether appointments are available.
When taking the child to the dentist, you must bring the child (not a guardian or someone else). Bring the child's dental card if they have one (given at the first visit), or their personal number and ID card. Some clinics request that parents bring the child at the first visit, especially if the child is younger than 7 years.
Treatments are covered under free protocols established by NAV: examination, tartar removal, fluoride treatment, sealants (on back teeth), and certain fillings. Extra costs such as tooth whitening or particularly advanced cosmetic treatment are not covered. If the dentist suggests something that is not free, it should be discussed in advance and the child's parents must approve the cost in writing.
What if you need a specialist dentist?
If the child needs a specialist dentist – such as an orthodontist, oral surgeon, or pediatric dentist – the child is referred by their regular doctor or school dentist. This referral must come from healthcare personnel, not directly from parents.
Orthodontic treatment (correction of tooth position with brackets) is partially covered for children under 18 years if the need is documented and includes bite problems that affect function or speech. Simple tooth alignment correction is not covered. You must wait for a referral to an orthodontic clinic – this can take 6–12 months. If you choose a private orthodontist, you must pay everything yourself.
Oral surgery – such as extraction of impacted teeth, frenectomy (cutting of connective tissue), or surgical exposure of impacted teeth – is covered if medically necessary. NAV and the county must approve the procedure in advance.
If the specialist dentist suggests treatment that is not covered, it should be made clear which part is covered (publicly) and which part must be paid privately. You can appeal if you believe the treatment should have been covered.
Adults: what does it cost after age 21?
From age 21, dental care is no longer free in Norway. Adults must pay for all dental treatment themselves, or choose to pay a copay (for parts of the treatment). The average cost for a check-up and cleaning at a private dental practice is 600–1,200 kroner. Denture repair, tooth whitening, and prosthetics (artificial teeth) cost significantly more – from 2,000 to 15,000 kroner or more depending on the scope.
NAV does not provide direct dental subsidies to adults, but many dentists are registered with Helfo (Health conditions and insurance online) for reimbursement of specific treatments. If you have a high copay due to extensive treatment (over 2,700 kroner annually), you can receive Helfo reimbursement of approximately 20–25 % of costs above the copay. You must ask the dentist to register the treatment in the Helfo system.
Dentures (artificial teeth), dental bridges, and implants have partial public reimbursement for people over 67 years of age. If you have disabilities that affect oral hygiene, you may receive limited dental care coverage through the municipality's health and care institutions.
Some employers offer dental insurance as part of an employee package – this can cover 50–80 % of treatment costs.
Immigrants and dental health: what applies from day one?
Asylum seekers and refugees: If you are an asylum seeker awaiting processing, you have the right to emergency dental care – that is, pain relief and treatment of acute illness, but not routine care or prevention. When your asylum application is approved and you receive a residence permit, you have the same dental health rights as Norwegian citizens (free for children under 21 years).
EEA citizens: If you work in Norway and are registered as an employee, your child has the same right to free dental care as Norwegian children if they are under 21 years and reside in Norway.
Family reunification: If you come to Norway through family reunification, your child has the same rights from day one if the documentation is in order and the child's residence permit is approved by UDI.
Newly arrived children: All children who receive a residence permit in Norway should have routine dental care at the health station or school. You receive an invitation automatically based on personal number. If the child has poor dental health from previous residence, a dental sanitation treatment is recommended – this can be started free of charge through the public dental service.
Interpreter services: If you do not speak Norwegian, you can get interpreter assistance at your dental visit. Ask the dental clinic to arrange an interpreter in advance – this should be free for children.
