Did you know you don’t have to pay for basic dental treatment? NFZ funds a wide range of dental procedures, from simple fillings to dentures. Check which services you are entitled to for free and how to access them in 2025.
Basic dental treatments under 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 appointment availability at the facility [1].
Basic treatments covered by 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
Pregnant and postpartum women have extended rights to dental care under NFZ. They can have tartar removed 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 receive 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 full root canal therapy for the entire dentition [2].
The procedure involves filling 1, 2, or 3 canals, depending on the tooth's 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 covered by NFZ – how to get free tooth replacement?
If you are missing 5-8 teeth in one arch, you are entitled to a partial denture covered by NFZ once every 5 years. In the case of complete tooth loss, you can receive a full denture, also once every 5 years [3]. Additionally, NFZ covers denture repairs once every 2 years and relining of dentures also once every 2 years.
New in 2025: overdentures on secured roots
From January 2025, an innovative type of denture 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].
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People after surgical treatment of tumors in the craniofacial area are not subject to time limits for denture replacement – they can receive new dentures according to medical needs.
New dental procedures in 2025
The list of dental services covered by NFZ has been significantly expanded since January 2025. Among others, the following were added:
- preventive sealing of grooves with PRR type 1 materials,
- repositioning of dislocated teeth,
- panoramic X-rays in a broader scope.
Panoramic X-rays covered by NFZ
From 2025, you can receive a free panoramic X-ray with a report in two cases: for root canal treatment and before starting prosthetic treatment. Adults are entitled to this service once every 5 years, while children and adolescents (ages 5-18) can get it once every 3 years in medically justified cases.
Special services for children
Children can now benefit from varnishing not only permanent teeth but also baby teeth – which significantly improves cavity prevention in the earliest years of life. Special preventive visits have also been introduced for children at age 3, which include assessment of dental development and orthodontic prevention.
Surgical dental procedures covered by the National Health Fund (NFZ)
As part of dental surgery, you can get for free:
- remove single- and multi-rooted teeth (including surgical removal),
- to surgically remove impacted teeth,
- to dress wounds and stop bleeding in the oral cavity.
NFZ also covers treatment of lesions on the oral mucosa and removal of odontogenic cysts. Since 2025, non-traumatic tooth immobilization has also been added for dislocations, root fractures, or replantation of knocked-out 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 that 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 procedure under the insurance.
How to avoid frequent visits to the dentist?
The best way to reduce visits to the NFZ dentist is effective home prevention.. Regular oral hygiene is the foundation of healthy teeth and saves time searching for available appointments at NFZ-contracted clinics.
For daily care, the following will definitely work well:
- rotary sonic 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,
- ultrasonic cleaner ZENT® Ultrasonic Cleaner for disinfecting toothbrushes, as well as dentures or 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 help you enjoy healthy teeth and reduce visits to the NFZ dentist.
The NFZ system offers a wide range of free dental services, which were significantly expanded in 2025. From basic procedures like cavity treatment, through dental prostheses, 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. Remember, prevention is best – regular oral hygiene will help you avoid most dental problems.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
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 with an NFZ dentist?
Yes, children and youth up to 18 years old have access to full root canal treatment for all teeth, fluoride varnishing, fissure sealing, and composite fillings on 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 under NFZ?
Local surface anesthesia is available under NFZ. From 2026, children in certain cases will be able to receive general anesthesia.
NOTES
[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
