Did you know that you don’t have to pay for basic dental treatment? The NFZ finances a wide range of dental procedures, from simple fillings to dental dentures. Check which services you are entitled to for free and how to use them in 2025.
Basic dental procedures on the NFZ – what are you entitled to?
Every insured person can use free dental care without a referral. The Ministry of Health informs that in case of sudden tooth pain, the dentist should provide help the same day, although in practice this may depend on the availability of appointments at a given facility [1].
Basic procedures reimbursed by the NFZ include:
- dental examination with hygiene instruction (once a year),
- check-up examinations (three times a year),
- cavity treatment using composite fillings,
- tartar removal from half of the dental arch (once a year)
You will also receive free local anesthesia during every procedure.
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Special entitlements for pregnant and postpartum women
Every pregnant woman – even if she does not have health insurance – has the right to free dental treatment on the NFZ. This results from the Act on health care services financed from public funds. This right covers the period of pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum (up to 42 days after delivery).
They can benefit from tartar removal from all teeth every 6 months (instead of the standard year) and dental check-ups every quarter. This is important because hormonal changes during this period increase the risk of gum and tooth problems.
NFZ root canal treatment – when is it available for free?
NFZ root canal treatment is one of the more expensive procedures you can get for free, but only in specific cases. For adults, treatment is reimbursed only for front teeth (excluding premolars and molars), but children, youth up to 18 years old, and pregnant and postpartum women can count on a full range of root canal therapy for the entire dentition [2].
The procedure includes filling 1, 2, or 3 canals, depending on the tooth structure. However, remember that the service does not cover the restoration of the tooth crown after the treatment is completed. This way, you can save your tooth from extraction, which is always a better solution than removal.
Dental dentures on the NFZ – how to get free tooth replacement?
If you are missing 5-8 teeth in one arch, you are entitled to a partial denture on the NFZ once every 5 years. In the case of complete edentulism, you can receive a full denture, also once every 5 years [3]. Additionally, the NFZ covers denture repairs once every 2 years as well as relining of the denture also once every 2 years.
Overdentures on secured roots
From January 2025, an innovative type of prosthesis has been introduced – overdentures based on secured tooth roots. This modern solution offers better stability than traditional full dentures because it uses the roots remaining after root canal treatment as additional support [4].
People after surgical treatment of tumors in the craniofacial area are not subject to time limits for prosthesis replacement – they can receive new prostheses according to medical needs.
Dental procedures in 2026
The list of dental services covered by NFZ has been significantly expanded since January 2025. Among others, the following have been added:
- preventive sealing of fissures with PRR type 1 materials,
- repositioning of dislocated teeth,
- panoramic X-rays in a broader scope.
Panoramic X-rays under NFZ
From 2025, you can receive a free panoramic X-ray with a report in two situations: for root canal treatment and before starting prosthetic treatment. For adults, the service is available once every 5 years; for children and adolescents (5-18 years), once every 3 years in medically justified cases.
Special services for children
Children can now benefit from varnishing not only permanent teeth but also milk teeth – which significantly improves caries prevention in the earliest years of life. Special preventive visits for children at 3 years of age have also been introduced, which include assessment of dental development and orthodontic prevention.
Types of local anesthesia
Under NFZ, a patient can receive one of three types of local anesthesia free of charge:
- surface (gel or spray),
- infiltration (shallow injection near the tooth),
- nerve block (e.g., causing numbness of the lips, chin, tongue).
Rules for fissure sealing and varnishing in children
- Fissure sealing of first permanent molars – once, until the age of 8.
- Fissure sealing of second permanent molars – once, until the age of 14.
- Varnishing of permanent teeth – no more than once per quarter.
Surgical dental procedures covered by NFZ
As part of dental surgery, you can receive free of charge:
- to remove single- and multi-rooted teeth (including surgically),
- to surgically remove impacted teeth,
- to dress wounds and stop bleeding in the oral cavity.
The NFZ also covers treatment of lesions on the oral mucosa and enucleation of odontogenic cysts. From 2025, non-traumatic immobilization of teeth has also been added in cases of dislocations, root fractures, or replantation of avulsed teeth in children and adolescents.
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How to find an NFZ dentist?
To use free dental services, you must go to a clinic that has a contract with NFZ. You can find addresses of such facilities in the online provider search on the NFZ website. The average waiting time is currently 20 days for stable cases and 0 days for urgent ones.
Remember, if you choose a service reimbursed by NFZ, you cannot pay extra for a higher standard – you must either accept the offered level or forgo the treatment under insurance.
How to avoid frequent visits to the dentist?
The best way to reduce NFZ dentist visits is effective home prevention.. Regular oral hygiene is the foundation of healthy teeth and saves time searching for available appointments at NFZ-contracted clinics.
In daily care, you will definitely find useful:
- The sonic rotary toothbrush with a 60° rotating motion ZENT®SoniQ+, which removes up to 10 times more plaque than a traditional toothbrush,
- A complement can be the irrigator ZENT®Stream+ for cleaning interdental spaces, more effective and pleasant to use than dental floss,
- The ultrasonic cleaner ZENT® Ultrasonic Cleaner for disinfecting toothbrushes, as well as the sterilizer ZENT®Uevo Duo that eliminates bacteria and fungi, significantly reducing the risk of oral infections.
Regular use of professional devices combined with systematic check-ups will allow you to enjoy healthy teeth and reduce the need for NFZ dental visits.
The NFZ system offers a wide range of free dental services, which were significantly expanded in 2025. From basic treatments like cavity care, through dentures, to modern procedures such as panoramic X-rays and overdenture prostheses. The key to accessing these services is finding a dentist with an NFZ contract and being patient while waiting for an appointment. However, remember that prevention is best – regular oral hygiene will help you avoid most dental problems.
FAQ – most frequently asked questions about free dental treatment on NFZ
Do I need a referral to an NFZ dentist?
No, a referral to the dentist is not required. You can go directly to a dental office that has a contract with NFZ.
How much does an NFZ dental implant cost?
Dental implants are currently not reimbursed by NFZ. You can only receive traditional partial or full dentures free of charge.
Do children have greater rights at the NFZ dentist?
Yes, children and youth up to 18 years old have access to full root canal treatment of all teeth, fluoride varnishing, fissure sealing, and composite fillings in front teeth.
How long do you have to wait for an NFZ dentist appointment?
According to NFZ data, the average waiting time is 20 days for stable cases and 0 days for urgent cases. For children, the average waiting time is 16 days.
What anesthesia is available on NFZ?
Local anesthesia is available on NFZ during standard procedures. From January 1, 2026, under the regulation of the Minister of Health of December 19, 2024, the list of indications for dental treatment of children under general anesthesia (narcosis) on NFZ has been expanded. The extended scope is available, among others, to children:
- with allergies to local anesthetics,
- with systemic disorders, for whom stress related to the procedure could negatively affect health,
- non-cooperative – despite adaptation visits and pharmacological sedation – including children up to 3 years old with at least 8 carious lesions or
- requiring treatment of at least 4 teeth,
- requiring immediate treatment of an acute inflammatory condition or surgical procedure within the oral cavity,
- persons with moderate and severe disabilities – after medical qualification, regardless of age.
The NFZ will allocate 60 million PLN annually for this extension. However, the availability of procedures may be limited due to an insufficient number of anesthesiologists, which may extend waiting times.
REFERENCES
[1] Ministry of Health, Announcement on guaranteed dental treatment services, Journal of Laws 2021 item 2148
[2] Regulation of the Minister of Health of November 6, 2013, on guaranteed dental treatment services
[3] Regulation of the Minister of Health of December 19, 2024, amending the regulation on guaranteed dental treatment services, Journal of Laws 2025 item 1
[4] AOTMiT Recommendation No. 93/2019 on overdenture prostheses based on secured roots
