• That treatment is done with fixed appliances (braces) on at least 10 adult teeth in the palate. 

• That the service is provided by an orthodontist. 

• That treatment with fixed appliances begins before the age of 21. 

• That the person in question has not previously received a grant for orthodontic treatment. 

Grants are paid to an orthodontist as soon as costs are incurred until the grant amount is paid in full. 

Dentists send applications electronically to Iceland Health on behalf of their clients. 

Iceland Health does not contribute to the cost of pre-orthodontic treatment before the start of orthodontic treatment itself or the monitoring and adjustment of prosthetics after the end of treatment. 

Iceland Health does not contribute to the cost of orthodontic treatment with aligners, such as Invisalign. 

Iceland Health pays 95% of the cost according to the price list for necessary and timely dental and orthodontic treatment due to serious consequences of congenital defects and diseases (Article 12 of Regulation 766/2024). 

It is necessary to apply for co-payment from Iceland Health before treatment, other than emergency treatment, begins. Dentists send applications to Iceland Health for their clients. 

If an individual has received an approved grant for orthodontic treatment, Iceland Health can subsidize four long trips a year. 

• An individual must submit a confirmation of arrival/dental invoice from a specialist along with receipts for travel expenses. 

• If travel has been used for treatment by other parties within the health care system, this reduces the right to travel for the orthodontic treatment.  

• Travel expenses are never fully refunded. 

• It is permitted to participate in repeated trips due to the most serious cases, and an orthodontist must apply for this. 

See more about subsidies for travel expenses. 

Cost of treatment 

Dentists are parties to agreements with Iceland Health and are familiar with the rules on reimbursement. They assess what treatment an individual needs and can check Iceland Health's co-payments before treatment begins. 

In the case of treatment that is paid for by Iceland Health, dentists work according to the price list of Iceland Health. 

The dentist has a duty to inform the individual of the cost of the treatment before treatment begins.  

Reimbursement from Iceland Health 

This is not a direct refund to an individual. Health insurance pays its share of the cost directly to the dentist, who charges the individual what they must pay.