The decision means that the current high-cost protection will be supplemented with a new support called special dental care compensation.
In the case of a major treatment where the reference price is 10,000 kronor, the state will cover 90 percent of the cost and the patient 10 percent, said Christian Democrats member Dan Hovskär in the debate. The support covers illness, pain, broken teeth, rehabilitation and habilitation.
It is a historic reform for the elderly, he says.
The reform will cost the state around SEK 3.4 billion next year.
Waving flag
The Left Party was the only party to vote no. V member Karin Rågsjö explained that she is positive about the proposal but is critical of the fact that the Sweden Democrats and the government have not gone further and expanded high-cost protection for more groups.
This reform could have been a major reform, I could have walked in here and waved a flag of joy, if you had broadened it.
She wonders what happened to the SD's promise in the 2022 election campaign about dental care for all. However, SD's group leader Linda Lindberg believes that the party is now delivering on its promise.
In a first stage, it affects people who turn 67 or older in 2026. It is a dignified and fair start to the reform work.
Criticism from private dentists
There has also been harsh criticism from private dental care, pointing out that the proposal introduces price regulation, which according to the industry threatens the quality and material choices made in various treatments today.
The Center Party's Christofer Bergenblock believes that this risks excluding private dental clinics in rural areas. But the effects will have to be evaluated gradually, says the Moderate Party's Thomas Ragnarsson.
The legal changes will enter into force on January 1, 2026.
