Dispute escalates:

Dental fillings soon no longer free of charge

(Bild: Viacheslav Yakobchuk)

The dispute between dentists and the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) over free amalgam replacements is escalating: As of the beginning of 2025, there will be no more free dental fillings in Austria!

There is a need for action because an EU-wide ban on amalgam will come into force at the beginning of 2025.

The ÖGK wants to use Alkasit as a replacement, but dentists are against it. They only want to accept the glass ionomer cement, which is inferior in terms of material technology, as a free service for patients; the doctors believe that everything else should remain a private service.

Warning of fewer panel doctors
Their argument: If the social insurance proposal were to be followed, additional services would be provided that would not cover costs: "The result would be a further thinning out of comprehensive dental care by panel dentists," the press release states. Many services are in deficit or are not even remunerated by social insurance. As a result, the majority of dentists have been forced to cross-subsidize their health insurance services with private services for years. For many dentists, this is the reason for resigning their health insurance contract or not signing a health insurance contract in the first place.