Dental Services in Poland – Cost Pressures and NFZ Restrictions

08.03.2025

Dental Services in Poland – Cost Pressures and NFZ Restrictions

Currently, only about 60% of the population in Poland uses dental services. These are most often people aged 35–54, with a college education and higher incomes. The main barriers are the limited availability of advanced services funded by the National Health Fund (NFZ) and rising service prices, which by 2024 had risen well above the EU average.

A market focused on the private sector

Services reimbursed by the National Health Fund account for only about 20% of the dental market's value.
Key procedures, such as dental implants and orthodontics, are not covered by public funding.
Most patients pay for their treatment out of pocket, which poses a challenge both for them and for the entire health care system.
The increase in service prices is due to rising costs of materials, energy, and medical staff salaries.

Forecasts for 2025–2030

The market's growth rate is expected to slow as inflationary pressures subside.
The market's nominal average annual growth rate for 2025–2030 is expected to be approximately 8%.
When inflation is taken into account, real market growth may be higher than in previous years.

Despite restrictions on treatments covered by the National Health Fund (NFZ), the demand for these services remains significant, prompting patients to pay for them out of pocket. For many, the rising cost of dental services in Poland is certainly an obstacle to taking care of their teeth—in 2024 alone, these costs rose well above the European Union average. This is driven by the rising costs of materials, energy, and medical staff salaries. This poses a challenge not only for patients but, above all, for the system itself.

Marta Marszałek

Head of Pharmaceutical & Healthcare Market Analysis

Private dental care for children as well

Privately funded dental care is the most common option for both adults and children.
In the field of orthodontics and diagnostics (X-rays), as many as 66% of parents indicate that they pay out of pocket.
Public health care plays a greater role in preventive care and hygiene measures for children (41–44% of cases).
Treatment for tooth decay in children covered by the National Health Fund (NFZ) accounts for only 28% of cases.

Increased Awareness of Preventive Measures

An increasing number of patients are taking advantage of preventive services, such as dental cleaning—57% of patients plan to do so in 2025 (a 7 percentage point increase year-over-year).
The greatest interest in preventive care is observed in the 18–34 age group (66%), followed by the 35–54 age group (60%) and those 55 and older (48%).
This increase is linked to income levels and the availability of benefits offered by employers.
Dental preventive care is increasingly covered by private health insurance, subscription plans, and employer-sponsored health care.

Patients are increasingly willing to take advantage of preventive services, such as dental cleaning. In 2025, 57% of patients plan to undergo this procedure, which represents an increase of 7 percentage points compared to 2024. It is possible that we are seeing a certain shift in the behavior of Poles, but at this stage, it is still difficult to speak of a lasting trend.

Marta Marszałek

Head of Pharmaceutical & Healthcare Market Analysis

Summary

The dental services market in Poland remains dominated by the private sector, and restrictions on public funding, along with rising service prices, pose a significant challenge for patients. At the same time, awareness of preventive care is growing, which may have a positive impact on the oral health of Poles in the coming years.

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