Child dental health assistance programme

“Programa de Asistencia Dental Infantil” is a Spanish programme where all children between 5 and 15 receive a card annually allowing them to choose a dentist (public or private). The dentist is publicly financed by a capitation system and the card covers restorative and preventive treatments in the permanent dentition, pain management in the deciduous dentition, and trauma and orthodontic treatment in some specific cases. Approximately half of all 17 Spanish regions have this type of programme and participation among children varies between 30-75%.

The programme has proven effects in reducing inequalities in oral health over time in the regions where it is in place.