Individuals with a long-term illness or an extensive disability may be entitled to subsidised dental care ("F-tandvård”). A person may be entitled to "F-tandvård” in Sweden if, as a consequence of their disability, they have major difficulties in taking care of their oral hygiene, or if their disability contributes to their need for dental care.
For the target group
When you have limb deficiencies, it may be difficult to take care of your oral health and dental hygiene. Consequently, you may be entitled to receive basic dental care at the same cost as for healthcare, which is covered by the high-cost protection scheme ("högkostnadsskydd”) in Sweden. If you are subject to the Swedish Act concerning Support and Service for Persons with Certain Functional Impairments ("LSS”), you are entitled to an assessment of oral health and necessary dental care, and thus an "F-kort” card for subsidised dental care. Contact your LSS administrator at the local municipality for information about how to apply for subsidised dental care ("F-tandvård”).
If you are not subject to LSS, you may still be entitled to receive basic dental care. In order to qualify, you need to have a certificate from your physician. You can then apply for the "F-kort” card via your local county council.
Please feel free to contact EX-Center if you need help with your application.
In order to demonstrate your needs and thus your entitlement to the "F-kort” card, it is necessary to provide proof of the fact that you use your mouth and teeth in a manner that causes wear and tear. The sorts of arguments you can use to justify your entitlement include the fact that you use your mouth and teeth on a daily basis to carry, lift, drag, open packages, pull zippers up and down, and so on. The list is a long one. It involves everything you do that places an extra strain on your teeth. In order to avoid wear and tear, you can place a protective layer of plastic on your teeth. This is something that needs to be repeated regularly.
Further arguments that could be used in your application include the difficulties you have in reaching everywhere with your toothbrush, or the difficulties you have in using dental floss and interdental brushes. Certain medications may affect your oral health as they may contribute to increased or reduced saliva production, which could also entail a deterioration in your oral health. In your application you should state that you have a rare diagnosis.
Helpful tips
To make it easier to maintain good oral hygiene, there is information about different types of toothbrushes available on the site Tipbase.org. If you find it difficult to hold and use a toothbrush, there are racks/supports available that can be assembled onto your basin so that you can attach your toothbrush.