Making the most of your Dental Care: Medical Card Coverage in 2024

Navigating the healthcare landscape can be daunting. Understanding what your medical card covers will allow you to make confident decisions about your dental health journey. 

At Truly Dental we believe that everyone deserves access to quality dental care. We are passionate about creating a community where dental health is within everyone's reach, regardless of their financial circumstances. 

Our goal is to empower you with the knowledge you need to make informed decisions about your dental health and help you understand that financial constraints should not be a barrier to achieving a healthy smile.

Dental Treatments Covered Under the Medical Card

Medical card holders over the age of 16 are entitled to a number of free dental services each year- to include: 

• One annual oral examination 
• Two fillings per calendar year
• Unlimited extractions 
• Teeth cleaning 

Additional treatments like dentures, some gum treatments, and more fillings may also be available to some patients, depending on their specific circumstances. 

Treatments Not Covered Under The Medical Card

The medical card provides a considerable array of dental services, but it's important to note that it does not cover all treatments. Specifically, the following treatments are not covered:

• Aesthetic dental procedures such as teeth whitening.
• Dental crowns and veneers.
• Root canal treatments performed on back teeth.
• Dental implants.

However, there are certain treatments that could be covered under the medical card, provided they are deemed clinically necessary. Approval for these exceptions is granted following an application to the Health Service Executive (HSE) by your dentist. These exceptions may include:

• Emergency root canal treatments on a front tooth.
• Dentures and related repairs.
• More than two fillings in a year.
• Braces, but only in instances where a significant discrepancy exists between the position of the upper and lower jaw. This would require an assessment by a local HSE dental clinic.

Medical Card Coverage at Truly Dental

At Truly Dental we strive to offer comprehensive dental services across all of our locations, tailored to meet the diverse needs of our patients.

At present, our clinics in Truly Donnybrook, Truly DL, Truly D2, Truly Bray, Truly Moate amd Truly Tullamore accept the medical card. This means that if you’re a medical card holder seeking dental treatment, our teams in Moate and Dun Laoghaire will be pleased to assist you. Our clinics are designed to be warm, welcoming, and anxiety-free, with a team dedicated to making your visit as comfortable as possible. Our professionals are experienced in working with the Health Service Executive (HSE) and will ensure you're informed and confident about every aspect of your treatment plan, particularly when it comes to understanding what your medical card covers.

While our other locations do not currently accept the medical card, our goal is to ensure that all our patients have access to high-quality dental care. We are committed to providing a range of flexible payment options to ensure that everyone can access the dental care they need.

Payment Plans for Non-Covered Treatments

If you require a treatment that is not covered by the medical card, and need a little help - we offer several flexible payment plans to allow you to manage the costs. 

Pay The Full Cost In Advance

If you can pay the full cost of your treatment in advance, we offer a 10% discount on the total balance of your treatment plan. This option is ideal if you want to complete your payment upfront and enjoy a significant saving.

Pay As You Go

Our Pay As You Go option allows you to pay for each stage of your treatment as it is completed. We will always provide a detailed breakdown of your full treatment plan, so you will be informed in advance of the cost of each procedure stage. Payments are made at the clinic on the day of each treatment. This option is excellent if you prefer to stagger your payments over the duration of your treatment.

Monthly Payments

For those who prefer to spread the cost over time, we partner with GoCardless.com to allow you to set up a direct debit to cover your entire treatment cost. With this plan, no down-payment or deposit is required. This option ensures that your treatment is affordable and fits comfortably within your monthly budget.

Our team is always here to discuss your treatment options, medical card cover and to help you choose the payment plan that suits you best.

Don't hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns. We're here to help make your journey to perfect dental health as smooth and stress-free as possible.