The prices of dental care, what a headache! A center practitioner Dentegohelps us to see more clearly: “in France, so-called “conservative” dental care is well covered by Social Security: the treatment of cavities, scaling, devitalization or the extraction of a tooth … are reimbursed up to 70% and, generally, the mutual insurance companies complete the bill”.
It gets more complicated when you look at certain implant and periodontal treatments. Example: in the event of a tooth to be extracted and replaced, it is sometimes necessary to place an implant and a crown. The invoice is then painful: the dental implant (1000 euros on average) + the crown (550 euros on average in France) + the pillar on implant (from 300 to 500 euros) = approximately 2000 euros. Social Security only reimburses the crown… up to 75 euros. Ouch!
How to lighten the bill? There are several tips:
- Compare the prices. “Patients don’t always dare to ask for several quotes before undergoing implant or periodontal treatment,” explains the practitioner. However, it’s exactly like when you have masonry work done in your house: you go to see several craftsmen and compare prices. Because you should know that, especially when it comes to prosthetic care, the prices are free. In addition, there are significant regional disparities: according to a report published by the Court of Auditors in September 2016, in Paris, the price of fitting a ceramic-metallic crown (the most common) varies between 369 euros … and 1090 euros.
- Choose your health insurance wisely. “Before signing an implantology quote, don’t hesitate to call your health insurance fund to find out which acts it reimburses and at what level” specifies the practitioner. In the majority of cases, even the most basic contracts cover 100% of the moderating ticket for conservative care – on the other hand, the coverage of prostheses and orthodontics varies considerably depending on the contract taken out.
- Opt for dental centers. They are beginning to set up in major French cities: dental centers offer competitive rates that are “accessible to all”. This is the case of Dentego, which has 9 dental centers in Paris and in the regions to be closer to the needs of patients. Dentego ensures the accessibility of dental care to all to offer the best of dental health, by charging moderate prices and offering wide working hours. In addition, these dental centers support patients in their administrative procedures and liaise directly with reimbursement bodies. “These affordable rates are explained by the large number of patients treated simultaneously: while a private practice may have one or two chairs, a dental center may have 8, 9 or 10,” explains the practitioner. Better: these dental centers systematically practice third-party payment: “this means that you do not have to advance the costs of the consultation, the dental center will directly present the invoice to Social Security and to the patient’s mutual insurance company. »
To be absolutely avoided: dental tourism. Even if, in some countries (Hungary, Spain, Portugal…), dental care is much more affordable, the risks are numerous… And the dangers are real! Thus, the UFSBD warns “tourists” against health risks – hygiene and safety standards are not necessarily identical abroad – and the possible complications, linked to the performance of heavy medical procedures in a very short period of time. Caution !
Source: Health insurance
Thanks to the practitioner of the Dentego centers.
