Learn what you should bring with you for your visit to the dentist, about fees and reimbursements, emergency procedures, and get recommendations for good dentists.

How it works

Make an appointment by calling the dental clinic of your choice. Expect to get an appointment any time from the next day to the next week.

When you visit a dentist (tandarts) in Ghent you should bring your residence card and stickers from your health insurance fund, your bank card (avoid credit cards, they are usually not accepted) and some cash (in case they don’t accept electronic payment at all).

Normally you pay the fee after the visit. Charges are then partially or completely refunded by your health insurance fund. Additionally, most health insurance companies also offer top-up dental insurance packages. Major dental work, such as crowns or bridges, will probably need prior approval from your insurer.

The amount of reimbursement varies according to the treatment, your personal circumstances (such as your age) and what kind of insurance plan you are on. If you visit a dentist at least once a year for a check up you get as a reward cheaper dental care in the future.

You can read more about how the health funds and insurances work in Belgium here.

You should check with your health insurance fund for exact and most updated information.

Where are the good dentists in Ghent?

You are free to choose your own dentist. Most of them are private practices, some are shared clinics with many dentists in the same buildings. Here are a few of the dentists recommended in the Facebook group Expats in Gent. You can also use the search box in the group for more recommendations. 

• Endo (Gent-Zwijnaarde)
• Mond En Kaak (Gent)
• Mond Tandartsen Praktijk (Sint Martens Latem)
• Tandheelkundig Centrum Prof. R. Cleymaet (Tandartsen) (Gent)
• Marc Rijckaert (Gent)
• 404 Tandartsen Praktijk (Gent)

The hospitals in Ghent offering dental care are:

• UZ 
• AZ Jan Palfijn
• AZ Sint Lucas

Emergencies

Emergency toothache? Call the paid (1.5EUR minute) number 09 033 9969 to book an appointment at the nearest dental clinic that is open. The number is operational in the weekends and holidays between 9:00 and 18:00. See more info (in Dutch) by visiting http://www.tandarts.be/wachtdienst

Note, there are separate numbers for orthodontics and periodontology services.

You can also check the emergency procedures for the hospitals by following the links above.