10. Dental Care in France

1. 10.1. Basic Rules
2. 10.2. Child Dental Treatment
3. 10.3. Prostheses

10.1. Basic Rules for Dental Treatment in France

Dental services in France operate on a very similar basis to that of the general medical services.

Unlike other services you have no need to be referred by your family doctor to receive treatment, without financial penalty.

Nevertheless, as in many other European countries there is a shortage of dentists in many parts of the country so you may not have too much choice!

Most dentists work within the framework of the public health system, so your general dental treatment is reimbursed in very much the same manner as that of other medical specialists.

That is to say, you will receive reimbursement from the social security system at 70% of official rates and your voluntary health insurance policy will pay for balance.

There is no €1 surcharge in the manner of other medical services.

Fillings, extractions, treatment for gum diseases and most other general treatment are covered by the social security and voluntary health systems.

The level of the charges will depend on the type of treatment but they are not excessive by the standards of many countries.

For emergency work on a Sunday or a public holiday, there is an additional charge, but this is equally reimbursable, although some dentists may apply an additional charge, which is not fully covered by the social security system or your complementary health insurance.

Nevertheless, in the case of more specialist treatment, such as prostheses and teeth braces dentists are entitled to impose their own charges. In these circumstances, you will generally find that neither the social security system nor your voluntary health insurance will meet all of the costs.

There are also other instances when there is absolutely no social security cover at all for the treatment and where only the best quality voluntary health policies will cover some or all of the cost of the treatment.

The main types of treatment are ‘parodontology’ (oral surgery), ‘orthodontics’ (tooth irregularities) for adults and certain types of prostheses.

If you wish treatment of this kind then you will probably need to pay for it.