Dental Care in the Czech Republic: White Fillings for Everyone – Amalgam Only in Exceptional Cases

From January 2026, health insurance in the Czech Republic will cover new dental services: white fillings and root canal treatments will be reimbursed, while the use of amalgam will be severely restricted.

Since the beginning of the year, important changes in dental care have come into effect in the Czech Republic – for both children and adults. Insurances now cover, among other things, the cost of white tooth fillings and root canal treatments. The aim is to make modern treatment methods more accessible to patients and to promote preventative care.

White Fillings for Everyone

For the first time, conventional composite fillings, the so-called white fillings, are fully covered by public health insurance – for children, adolescents, and adults. For children and adolescents up to 18 years, full reimbursement also includes higher-quality layered fillings and complete root canal treatments across the entire dentition.

For adults, simple, non-layered composite fillings are fully covered up to a value of 900 CZK. For more aesthetically demanding, layered variants, patients must pay the difference themselves. Fillings made from dental cements such as glass ionomer or chemically/dual-cured materials are also reimbursed.

Partial Reimbursement for Root Canal Treatments

Endodontics has also seen changes: for adults, a root canal treatment using the so-called central post method for front teeth up to premolars (fourth and fifth tooth) is fully reimbursed. Other treatment methods may be chosen, but must then be partially paid for by the patient. Health insurance covers 1,300 CZK per treatment. The exception is molars, for which adults must pay the root canal treatment themselves. For children, all treatments across the entire dentition are covered, including molars.

The End of Amalgam Fillings

From July 2026, new rules for the use of amalgam fillings will apply. The previous restriction – only for children under 15 years, as well as for pregnant and breastfeeding women – will be extended to all patients. Amalgam may only be used in exceptional cases where medically absolutely necessary. Otherwise, its use is explicitly prohibited for all insured patients.

Changes at the Dentist from 2026:

Children up to 18 years:

• Photo composite fillings (white fillings) are fully covered for the entire dentition by health insurance, i.e., with no patient contribution.

• Complete endodontic (root) treatments are also fully covered for the entire dentition.

Adults:

• Non-layered white composite fillings are fully covered.

• Layered white fillings are partially covered.

• Full reimbursement by health insurance for root canal treatments using the central post method (except molars) – 1,300 CZK.

• Partial reimbursement of 1,300 CZK for root canal treatments using other methods (except molars).

All Patients:

• From July 2026, the use of amalgam fillings will be restricted for all patients.

Source: VZP