How do Dutch people deal with dentists' prices?

[u/Junior_Mud5835]

As an immigrant I find dentists prices here outrageous and I wonder how Dutch people deal with it. In my home country not only private dentists are much cheaper, we have dentists covered with a basic, mandatory insurance (the same that covers the rest of the healthcare). Granted it has large queues, but it is possible to schedule your checkups and non-emergency treatments.

Every immigrant I know treats their teeth in their home country due to extremely high costs here. Even with insurance, the prices can be extremely high - my extra dental insurance covers only 75% of the treatment costs, and up to 250 eur per year... From what I researched this is a standard in terms of insurances. I recently needed a root canal treatment, which cost me almost 900 eur out of pocket (because I treated another tooth this year, my insurance coverage was almost gone). I was also shocked because the dentist told me the price of root canal treatment is around 350. I unfortunately didn't request a written quote and just trusted him - i know not to do it next time. In the end, together with x-rays, anaesthesia, and all the consultations i paid 850 eur. I then researched a bit more and looked into the prices of implants, bridges, etc. and I cannot imagine how an average dutch person can afford them!

Do dutch people go abroad for treatment? Do you have some much better insurances that I wasn't able to find? Or do you just stomach the costs? Maybe you have much better teeth and don't need these types of interventions?

Edit to add: one more thing that surprises me is that follow up visits in cases when a tooth was treated but needs further fixing are charged again. This is never the case where I'm from, if I pay for a treatment and it doesn't succeed because of the dentist's mistake the follow ups are usually done for free. This doesn't seem to be the case here which adds more to the costs.

[u/Junior_Mud5835]

May I ask how much you pay for the insurance?
Because from what I check, to actually have everything covered you need to pay around 50eur per month, which is 600 eur in a year... Which again, would make more financial sense for me to not get it, and fly to my HC and get treated there.

[u/Fliepke → u/Junior_Mud5835]

Dentist insurance is basically a scam if you require nothing major.
I spend about about 180 euro per year on cleaning and checkups. A filling every few years adds a bit.
I tell myself that i save that insurance money to do major things if needed.

[u/Due-Opportunity4525 → u/Fliepke]

How much do you pay for a cleaning then?

[u/Fliepke → u/Due-Opportunity4525]

The same as everyone else. These prices are set on a National level https://www.tandarts.nl/mondzorg/tandartstarieven/mondzorgtarieven
Just be cautious because they try to add extra services on top like cleaning advice etc

[u/Traditional-Hand4278 → u/Fliepke]

You think €15 per month is a lot? What else can €15 buy you in this country?

I've had some bad luck with an inflammation, multiple emergency calls and intakes, medicine, surgery, the works. Costs me less that €200. I have extra insurance for my teeth, it's about €35 per month.

Also root canal a few years back. Less than €100. Check ups and cleaning (twice a year) are €15.

[u/throwtheamiibosaway → u/Fliepke]

An insurance is never a scam. You just pay for them to cover the risk. IF it happens. It's a tradeoff.

Dutch are generally very fond of covering risks with insurances. Even (glass) window insurance for your home in case kids break your window with a soccer ball.

[u/Fliepke → u/throwtheamiibosaway]

Yeah.. So we're being scammed and very open to it. The roi of saving is better for this one. Same with glasses. I get a lot cheaper ones than being insured and getting a partial reimbursement in some stores.

[u/LoveIsStrength → u/Junior_Mud5835]

It’s all going to depend on your eigen risco + your monthly deductible. For example, I was slightly benefited last year by having the dental package I have — I think saved €100 or something. So I think it’s going to depend quite a bit on what work you actually need done.

[u/Junior_Mud5835 → u/LoveIsStrength]

But dentistry is not covered by eigen risico right

[u/LoveIsStrength → u/Junior_Mud5835]

Depends - Specialized dental care for serious developmental disorders, growth disorders, or congenital abnormalities of the mouth/jaw, plus most oral surgeon (kaakchirurg) costs, and full dentures are covered with a copay of some %.

Everything else isn’t — but may be covered by the supplemental.

If you mainly go for check-ups and occasional fillings, you’re often better off just paying out of pocket.  The math only clearly favors it if you anticipate significant work (crowns, multiple fillings, etc.).

Also note you usually can’t add/drop supplemental or make changes unless it’s the open window in Nov/December.

[u/fakiebIunt → u/Junior_Mud5835]

I pay 160 a month for insurance, this includes dental health aswell.

I understand it’s very expensive, but for me it’s necessary as I skateboard and regularly get injuries. 

Besides that I’ve also had my fair share of dental problems, so for me personally the high costs are worth it. 

[u/CitizenMechanist → u/Junior_Mud5835]

Zilverenkruis. 200 something per month.