The annual window for changing health insurance companies is about to open up, so it is important to decide now what to do about maintaining your dental health.

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The new Dutch government is not planning any changes in the way dental insurance is calculated next year but most insurance companies are planning to put up their costs for dental care in the Netherlands by around a euro or two a month.

The basic dentist package will cost around €12 a month which will cover check-ups a year and a standard clean. More comprehensive packages cost more than €40 a month.

However, be warned, most of these packages have limits and will only pay out a certain amount of cash each year.  You will also have to pay part of each treatment yourself. For example, most policies will fund just 75%, of the cost of a filling, leaving you to pick up the rest of the bill.

Prices

The big change next year is, or course, the end of free pricing. The cabinet’s experiment to give dentists free rein to set their own fees has been abandoned after some put up charges more than MPs said was acceptable.

This means health ministry officials are once again deciding how much dental treatment should cost. At the moment, it is unclear how these new fees are shaping up.

However, if you would like to cut the cost of your health insurance, it might be worth considering whether or not you need dental insurance at all.

Good condition

If your teeth are in good condition and you usually just have a couple of check-ups and a quick clean, it can be cheaper to save up the money instead. For example, a check-up, standard treatment to remove plaque and a couple of x-rays should cost around €70.

Dental care in the Netherlands is of a high standard. Most people visit their dentist (tandarts) twice a year for a check-up and as a result, their teeth are in good condition.

If you are a newcomer to the capital, it may be hard to find a dentist in Amsterdam who will include you in their books because their practices are full. Ask friends and neighbours if they can recommend anyone.