Optimizing Dental Health Policy: a perspective on recent development in Sweden

While working as a software developer with a background in mathematics, I've often found myself drawing parallels. Sorry for the unrelated tangent from my previous posts.

Recently, I had a realization about the current government approaches to dental health in Sweden and other Nordic countries. The recent developments in lowering the age limit for subsidized dental care (specifically, scrapping free dental care for young adults aged 19-23 starting in 2025) might seem like a budget-saving measure, but I believe it could cause more harm to society than good in the long run.

Current policies, which reduce subsidies for younger populations, effectively lower the intervention rate in early states, allowing more individuals to progress to costly, severe conditions. It is safe to say that preventive check-ups reduce the incidence of advanced dental issues. Cutting access for this group could shift the distribution of dental health outcomes toward higher-cost treatments, increasing the expected value of public health expenditure. The current dental policy shifts focus on cutting costs by reducing subsidies for younger people, while expanding them for seniors (like capping costs for those over 67 from 2026). This is essentially prioritizing end-of-life fixes over early prevention, which could lead to a buildup of oral health issues that explode later, straining the healthcare system even more.

But what if we flipped the narrative? Instead of pouring money into treating problems after they've festered-think gum disease, cavities or worse, we optimized the budget by investing in prevention. We could reframe dental health funding as an incentive system. Reward people for maintaining good dental habits. For example, offer rebates, tax credits tied to health apps for those who consistently show up with healthy teeth during check-ups. This creates a positive feedback loop, an incentive.

In this model, dentists could shift their focus to extreme cases-those rare, complex issues that require specialized intervention-rather than spending time on routine cleanings for people who've neglected basic habits.

Taking it step further

To truly maximize the impact, we need well-crafted interfaces that sustain these incentives over the long term. This is about designing intuitive, accessible digital platforms that make prevention seamless and engaging for everyone. Imagine a national dental health portal, integrated with Sweden’s existing digital infrastructure like BankID, where users can track their rebates, rewards for consistent healthy outcomes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, rethinking dental health policy through a preventive, incentive, driven model-supported by accessible, well-crafted digital interfaces, could transform Sweden’s approach. Instead of reacting to problems, we optimize for health, reduce long-term costs, and empower individuals.