Private Dental Care Prices Soar While Many Treatments Remain Free Under NFZ

Millions of Poles are unaware that the National Health Fund has expanded its list of covered dental services, even as private clinic costs continue to skyrocket and force many to delay treatment.

Soaring Prices in Private Dental Clinics

Private dental care is becoming an increasingly heavy burden for patient wallets. According to data published by dentystaradzi.pl, a small filling costs about 300 zlotys today, while a larger filling covering most of the tooth costs about 550 zlotys, and extensive reconstruction exceeds 600 zlotys.

Even higher bills await patients requiring root canal treatment, with prices ranging from 500 to 1,400 zlotys depending on the number of channels. Added to this are the costs of porcelain crowns, dentures, and subsequent stages of tooth reconstruction, meaning comprehensive treatment for a single tooth can absorb several thousand dollars or zlotys.

One Reason Why More People Skip Treatment

Rising prices are causing many patients to postpone dental visits or abandon them altogether. A survey by UCE Research shows that 36.9 percent of Poles decide against dental treatment for financial reasons, while 49.7 percent report no such problem and 13.4 percent could not give a definitive answer.

Dr. Piotr Przybylski from Implant Medical notes that treatment costs are increasingly misaligned with the financial capabilities of society. He explains that dentistry in Poland functions largely as a private sector funded directly from patients’ pockets, making it vulnerable to economic fluctuations and inflation, with patients often postponing care to manage household budgets.

Dentists Point to Rising Operating Costs

Dentists argue that price increases are not solely driven by a desire for higher profits. Paweł Barucha, vice-president of the Supreme Medical Council, emphasizes that running a clinic today is decidedly more expensive than decades ago.

He explains that electricity costs have multiplied sevenfold over the past 25 years, private clinics received minimal state shielding, and modern treatment equipment now costs as much as a good car. He also notes that many patients mistakenly assume NFZ treatment means lower quality, pointing out that waiting times in many regions do not exceed a month.

Young People and Seniors Most Likely to Delay Visits

The UCE Research survey shows that dental treatment is most frequently abandoned by individuals aged 18 to 34 and seniors over 65. Dr. Piotr Przybylski points out that young adults often face unstable incomes, while seniors live on fixed, limited budgets that cannot cover advanced care, highlighting a growing problem of health poverty.

The procedures postponed most frequently are the most expensive ones, with patients most often forgoing implantology (43.6 percent), orthodontics (39.4 percent), and prosthetics (38.9 percent).

NFZ Expands Dental Service Coverage

Few people know that the catalog of dental services financed by the National Health Fund has been expanded since the beginning of 2026. This means that part of the procedures previously paid for privately can now be performed without additional costs in clinics holding a contract with the Fund.

Patients can benefit from regular dental check-ups combined with oral hygiene instruction. The NFZ also finances preventive treatments, including scaling and cavity treatment, as well as light-cured fillings in specified cases.

What Can Be Done Free of Charge Under NFZ?

The benefit basket also includes the removal of baby and permanent teeth, more complex extractions such as impacted teeth, and the treatment of periodontal diseases and oral mucosa disorders. Patients can also receive intraoral X-ray imaging, pantomograms with descriptions in justified cases, and anesthesia during treatment.

Starting in 2026, the possibility of treating children under general anesthesia has also been expanded, particularly for complex treatments or when cooperation is difficult due to age or health status.

More Options for Children and Pregnant Women

A broader range of services is available to children and adolescents under 18, who can benefit from partial refund orthodontic treatment and an expanded prevention program. Pregnant and postpartum women also have more entitlements, with the NFZ funding more frequent dental check-ups, preventive treatments, and root canal therapy.

Treatments That Still Require Out-of-Pocket Payment

Although the list of NFZ-financed services has been expanded, many expensive procedures remain unrefunded. The Fund does not cover implants, most dental crowns, bridges, advanced prosthetic work, or procedures performed exclusively for aesthetic reasons.

Therefore, patients should carefully ask which elements of therapy will be funded by the NFZ and which must be paid for independently before beginning treatment.

How to Access Free Dental Treatment

To use treatment financed by the National Health Fund, patients simply need to choose a clinic with a signed agreement with the NFZ without needing a referral, provided they present confirmation of their health insurance rights.