Who is this guide for?
This guide is for you if you need dental care in Finland and want to understand where to contact, how public and private dental care differ, and where to find official information about fees and reimbursements.
It does not describe dental treatments, procedures, orthodontics, implants or oral care advice. The need for treatment is assessed by an oral healthcare professional.
How dental care works in Finland
Dental care is part of healthcare, but it often has its own service path. Appointment booking, fees and urgent dental care instructions may be separate from ordinary Health Centre guidance.
Public oral healthcare is usually organised by the wellbeing services county. In Helsinki, the city organises the service. Private dental care can be used separately, and its fees and possible Kela reimbursements are determined differently.
Separate service path
Dental care does not always go through ordinary Health Centre booking. Check your region's oral healthcare guidance.
Regional practices
Booking, urgent dental care numbers and service points may vary by wellbeing services county.
Public oral healthcare
In public oral healthcare, contact is made according to the guidance of your wellbeing services county or Helsinki. The service assesses your need for care, urgency and where you should be directed.
Basic public dental care path
Step 1
Check how to contact oral healthcare in your wellbeing services county or Helsinki
Check your situation before the next action.
Step 2
Contact booking or the service indicated by your region
This is the next point in the route.
Step 3
The service assesses your need for care and urgency
This is the next point in the route.
Step 4
You receive an appointment, instructions, urgent dental care guidance or another next step
This is the next point in the route.
Step 5
Keep the instructions and check entries in MyKanta later if needed
Check your situation before the next action.
Fees and practices for public services must be checked with your own region. This Guide does not replace regional appointment guidance.
Private dental care
In private dental care, you choose the provider yourself and follow that provider's instructions. Fees are based on the private provider's price list.
Kela may reimburse part of the costs of private dental care only in situations covered by current rules. Reimbursement does not automatically apply to all private dental services, additional charges or cosmetic procedures.
Private service
Faster booking may be possible, but costs and reimbursement must be checked separately.
Kela reimbursement
Reimbursement may be provided directly at the place of care or claimed later if the conditions are met. Always check current Kela guidance.
Urgent dental care
If you need urgent dental care, use the urgent oral healthcare guidance of your wellbeing services county or Helsinki. Do not use the ordinary planned appointment route if your region has a separate urgent dental care service.
If the situation is a wider emergency or involves immediate danger, use emergency instructions. In other urgent health matters, 116117 may guide you to regional on-call services, but for dental care it is important to check your region's own oral healthcare guidance.
Fees and Kela reimbursements
In public oral healthcare, fees are based on public client fees and regional practices. In private dental care, you pay according to the provider's price list.
According to Kela, reimbursement for private dental care may be available for certain examinations and treatments if the conditions are met. Reimbursement does not automatically cover all costs, and costs for public healthcare services are not reimbursed under the same private dental care reimbursement model.
What should I prepare before contact?
Keep ready your personal details, contact details, address, information about your wellbeing services county, any previous place of care, information about prescriptions or medicines and any interpreting need.
When contacting, say whether you need public booking, private service, urgent dental care, fee information or reimbursement guidance.
Clear purpose
Say early whether you need an appointment, urgent guidance, fee information, a certificate or the next step.
Written instructions
Ask for booking, fee and next-step instructions in writing if you may need them later.
If you need a sign language interpreter
Tell about your interpreting need as soon as you contact public or private dental care. Say whether you need a sign language interpreter, speech-to-text interpreting or another accessible communication method.
If you use Kela's interpreting service for persons with disabilities, book the interpreter early according to Kela guidance. Ask for important instructions, cost estimates and next steps in writing.