The Cost of Dental Care in Poland – What You Need to Know

Let me say, if you’re considering a trip to the dentist in Poland, there are a few things you need to know. The first question that pops into your mind might be, „How much the visit at dentist in Poland going to cost me?” Well, let’s break it down. A tooth sealant job could cost you around PLN 150, while a tooth scaling might set you back at least PLN 230.

Tooth removal? That’s around PLN 400, and if you need a root canal, you’re looking at a starting price of PLN 800. The costs of dental services are steadily increasing, but that’s not surprising when you know that the dental market is blossoming, reaching a value of PLN 8.9 billion in 2022.

Private Sector Dominance – The Rates At The Polish Dental Market

I think it’s important to highlight that prices at dentists vary greatly, mainly depending on the location of the office. If you’re in a big city, you could pay several times more than if you were on the outskirts. The price range is truly expansive.

A simple check-up could cost you anywhere from PLN 100 to PLN 150. Tartar removal might be in the range of PLN 200 to PLN 300. Root canal treatment could go from PLN 800 to even PLN 1,400 per tooth, and a filling might set you back anywhere between PLN 200-400.

↳ PRO TIP: Do you like traveling? Then before you buy any ticket or book an attraction, check if it's available in this worldwide Viator Database. You may save a lot of money and time. No need to thank me :)

The latest PMR report, „Dental Services Market in Poland 2023”, has shown that the dental services market value stood at PLN 8.9 billion in 2022. And who’s leading the charge? The private sector. I am convinced that this sector’s domination is due to minimal state funding for dental services. As a result, most Poles have accepted that they need to dig into their own pockets to cover dental costs.

Moving Towards Private Dental Care

As Pharma and Healthcare Business Unit Director at PMR, notes, this trend is also a result of poor valuations in the public sector. Even dental offices are moving away from the National Health Fund system (NFZ), and the number of facilities with contracts with this fund is dwindling every year. I can tell that Poles have little choice but to opt for private dental treatment.

Prices Will Be Higher And Higher

Now, it’s worth to say that the private expenses for dental services are the driving force behind the dental market’s growth, and they’re increasing at a faster rate than public funding in this area. I believe that when you compare per capita expenses to other European countries, Poles’ expenditure on dental treatment isn’t high.

However, the economic inflation across the board – from the rising costs of raw materials and energy to the inflation of salaries in the medical sector – has contributed to the hike in dental service prices.

PMR forecasts a double-digit increase in the value of the dental services market from 2022 to 2026 in the private sector. This increase is mainly due to inflation, health debt incurred during the pandemic, and the growth of private companies that offer high-quality services and introduce technological innovations. These factors significantly distinguish their offer from the services provided in the public sector.

New Technologies and Specialties

If you want a snapshot of just how fast dentistry has been progressing, let’s hear from director of the Marketing and Communication Department at Medicover Dentistry. She mentions that dental treatment today isn’t what it used to be. Gone are the days when we would treat our teeth with just one dentist. Nowadays, we have around 10 specialties, like periodontists, implantologists, or pedodontists.

Moreover, technology is revolutionizing diagnostics. It’s not just about X-rays anymore. There are also advanced tools such as tomography or intraoral 3D scanners at play. I think it’s fascinating to see how these advancements have transformed dental care.

Take endodontics, commonly known as root canal treatment. Nowadays, an endodontic specialist performs the procedure under a microscope, preceded by comprehensive imaging diagnostics right there in the office. And what’s better, you can even have painless computer anesthesia. That’s just one example of the leaps and bounds dentistry has made over the years.

But as the Director notes in the interview I saw, we still have a choice. You can stick to traditional treatment methods or opt for the latest knowledge, technology, and materials. However, keep in mind that these innovations come with a price tag.

Dental Price List – Estimating Your Dental Costs

I know you might be wondering, „So, how much does a dentist cost?” Below is a brief list of dental services to give you a ballpark idea of the costs for each treatment and service.

You can avail dental services such as preventive and control visits, as well as specific procedures, among other options ofered in private medical packages. For more detailed information, you can check out for instance Mediccentre.pl. But what about the prices for private medical services outside of these packages?

Dental Service Prices in Poland – Breaking Down the Costs

In Most Dentist Offices, You can Expect Modern Technology

If you need to know about dentistry and prices, you’ll find that several factors influence the cost of dental services in Poland. The location of the office, the condition of your teeth, and the scope of the work needed are all significant factors. However, I can give you some average figures to give you a general idea.

Standard Dentistry

  • Dental check-up: PLN 150
  • Composite filling: PLN 300-350
  • Composite reconstruction: PLN 400-650
  • Tooth hypersensitivity treatment: PLN 100-150

Prevention and Hygiene Procedures

  • Fluoridation: PLN 200
  • Scaling with sandblasting: PLN 300-350
  • Removal of tartar: PLN 200
  • Sandblasting: PLN 200

Teeth Whitening

The cost of teeth whitening largely depends on the method you choose. An at-home overlay system, which includes the creation of whitening trays and purchase of the materials, will cost you roughly 1.2-1.5 thousand zloty. If you choose to get your teeth whitened in-office, expect to pay a similar amount. More advanced methods might aproach 2,000 zloty.

Dental Surgery

  • Standard extraction: PLN 300-400
  • Removal of upper wisdom teeth: PLN 500-650
  • Removal of lower wisdom teeth: PLN 600-800
  • Advanced extraction with sinus-level treatment: around 1,000 zloty.

Prosthetics

  • Composite veneer: PLN 2,000
  • Full ceramic veneer: PLN 2,500-3,000
  • Denture: PLN 2,000-4,000, depending on the type (acrylic, snap).

How Much Do Dentists Earn in Poland?

With the growing demand for dental services, I bet you’re curious about dentist salaries. As per the Polish Economic Institute’s analysis, the median gross monthly income among dentists in 2019 was PLN 11.4 thousand gross. Dentists in the 40-49 age group had the highest earnings, while those aged 65 and above earned the least.

Agnieszka, amy dentist for 6 years, tells me that the tales about dentists’ salaries can be quite misleading. She can’t afford her own office, which would cost hundreds of thousands of zlotys. Currently, she’s working at a dental clinic on an employment contract, earning 8,000 zloty per month. She points out that starting your own practice involves significant upfront costs or taking out a large loan, which can take years to pay off.

References:

  • https://mediccentre.pl/artykul/ile-kosztuje-dentysta-cennik-stomatologiczny-od-profilaktyki-po-wyrwanie