The subscriptions, which are primarily offered by the Public Dental Service, are intended to protect against unforeseen costs by having the patient pay a fixed monthly fee, which is based on factors such as age and previous dental problems.
However, it is not certain that the subscriptions are economically beneficial for the patients.
The Swedish Social Insurance Agency has analyzed the system and found that, on average, it is cheaper to pay per treatment, broken down on a monthly basis.
We have looked at how big the difference is if you pay for a subscription compared to paying per treatment, broken down per month, and the total cost is approximately 40 kronor more for the subscriptions, says analyst Jonas Erlandsson to TT.
It is primarily among the younger patients that it is beneficial to have fewer patients with subscriptions, compared to older patients, he continues.
However, there are several advantages to dental subscriptions, according to Erlandsson. For example, patients with subscriptions visit the dentist more often.
It is very few with subscriptions who do not utilize them, he says.
Dental subscriptions are most common among the age group 30-39 years, and more women than men sign up for the subscriptions. Overall, about ten percent of the population from 24 years and above had dental subscriptions in 2024.
I think it is up to each individual patient to decide whether it is beneficial or not to have a subscription, says Jonas Erlandsson.
