How much does HELFO cover at the dentist?

Dentist Anne
November 2023
2 min estimated readingtime

HELFO is the Health Economics Administration under the Directorate of Health and covers certain expenses for individuals' health services. Read more about what the scheme covers and if you qualify.

What does HELFO cover at the dentist?

Individuals over 20 generally have to pay for dental treatment themselves, but there are certain exceptions for patients with specific diseases, conditions, or injuries. As of now (November 2023), there are also specific rights for those aged 21 to 24 during the current calendar year. Read more about this here.

A total of 15 conditions qualify for coverage of dental treatment expenses. Read more about it here.

  1. Rare medical conditions
  2. Cleft lip and palate
  3. Tumors in the oral cavity, adjacent tissues, or head region
  4. Infection-preventive dental treatment for specific medical conditions
  5. Diseases and anomalies of the mouth and jaw
  6. Periodontitis
  7. Dental development disorders
  8. Bite anomalies
  9. Pathological loss of dental substance due to attrition/erosion
  10. Hyposalivation (dry mouth)
  11. Allergic reactions to dental restoration materials
  12. Dental injury due to an accepted occupational injury
  13. Dental injury from an accident that is not an occupational injury
  14. Significantly reduced ability for self-care in individuals with permanent illness or disability
  15. Complete or partial tooth loss with no teeth in the lower jaw

A dentist or dental hygienist will determine if you fall under one of these categories and are therefore entitled to support from HELFO. During an examination, we will assess and inform you about any reimbursements you may be eligible for. For some conditions, a medical certificate from your general practitioner is required as an attachment in your dental record. The dentist will inform you if this is necessary so that you can obtain the required documentation.

How do you get a refund from HELFO?

All providers at Blid Tannhelse have direct reimbursement agreements with HELFO. This means that the providers receive a direct refund for the portion of the treatment covered by HELFO. As a patient, you do not need to apply for reimbursement yourself or pay for that part of the treatment cost; you only need to cover the portion you are responsible for.

Exemption card for dental treatment

When a patient has paid over a certain amount in co-payments in a calendar year, they will receive an exemption card that exempts the patient from further co-payments for the rest of the calendar year. Certain dental diseases and conditions that affect oral health may qualify for earning the exemption card. You can read more about this here.