Alderman Abigail Norville visits Tandarts West on Rotterdam's Dentist Day

Dental care should be there for everyone, no matter your wallet. Yet in Rotterdam there is a large group of people who do not dare to go to the dentist even with acute complaints, simply because they are afraid of the bill. That is why Tandarts West in Rotterdam West, with patients from Delfshaven, Middelland and beyond, took part in the Rotterdam Dentist Day, a day full of free help organised by the Social Dentist. In this article you can read what that day achieved, why our team is committed to it, and what you can do yourself if a visit to the dentist is financially difficult or if you are looking for an affordable dentist in Rotterdam.

What is the Rotterdam Dentist Day?

The Rotterdam Dentist Day is a joint initiative from the Social Dentist. The idea is as simple as it is powerful: on a single day, dental practices across the city open their doors to people from Rotterdam with acute dental complaints who normally cannot afford treatment. Think of severe toothache, an inflamed molar or a broken tooth, complaints that cannot wait but that are often still put off without help.

During the edition we took part in, sixteen dental practices joined and a total of more than 340 people from Rotterdam were helped free of charge. For many of them, it was the first time in years that they had sat in a dentist's chair again. Real stories lie behind that number: people who had endured pain for months because the bill seemed unaffordable.

The Rotterdam Dentist Day is an initiative of the Social Dentist, together with organisations like Fonds Bijzondere Noden Rotterdam that help people from Rotterdam on a low income.

The visit of alderman Abigail Norville

The alderman's visit took place at Tandarts West on Taandersstraat in Rotterdam West. Abigail Norville, alderman for Poverty Reduction, Debt Assistance, Allowances and Language, came to see with her own eyes how the Dentist Day works in practice. Semra Genc gave a tour of our practice and explained why Tandarts West feels it is so important to take part.

During the visit there was room for a meaningful conversation about the great need in the city. The alderman expressed her appreciation for all the dental care professionals who gave their time that day. The fact that an administrator with the poverty and debt portfolio comes to the dentist's chair shows how strongly oral health and financial security are intertwined.

There is a large group of people who cannot go to the dentist even with acute complaints, for financial reasons.

Why Tandarts West takes part

For Tandarts West Rotterdam, the choice to take part is self-evident. In our own practice we see how big the difference is between people who easily make an appointment and people who avoid the dentist for years. The latter is rarely down to unwillingness. Far more often money plays a role, or the fear that a check-up will lead to a bill they cannot afford.

Taking part in the Dentist Day fits the way we look at dental care: with us, the person comes first, not the treatment. Our team also speaks several languages, including Dutch, English, Arabic, Turkish, French and German, so that people who are less fluent in Dutch feel heard too. It is precisely that group that more often gets stuck in the care system.

In a few words, our conviction comes down to this:

What if you cannot afford a dentist?

Do you recognise yourself in the story above? Are you looking for a cheap or free dentist in Rotterdam, or are you struggling to pay the dentist right now? Then know that waiting is almost never the best option. With acute pain the rule is: the longer you put it off, the bigger and more expensive the problem usually becomes. As an affordable dentist in Rotterdam West we are happy to think along with you, because there are more options than you might think.

• Discuss your situation with the practice. A spread payment is often possible through Infomedics, so that you do not have to settle a bill all at once.
• Check your supplementary insurance. Part of the dental costs for adults is reimbursed through supplementary dental insurance. For children up to the age of 18, regular dental care is covered by the basic insurance.
• Ask the municipality or a fund for help. Residents of Rotterdam on a low income or benefits can sometimes receive support, for example through the Fonds Bijzondere Noden Rotterdam or through special assistance (bijzondere bijstand) for dental costs from the municipality of Rotterdam.
• Do not put off check-ups. A twice-yearly check-up prevents expensive surprises. We are happy to think along with you about what is feasible.

At Tandarts West in Rotterdam West you may always discuss your worries about the costs. We charge the national NZa rates and give you a clear estimate in advance, so that you never face any surprises.

The Social Dentist Study 2024 report

Besides offering free treatments, the Social Dentist also draws attention to the structural need for affordable dental care. During the day, the Social Dentist Study 2024 report was presented by Tim Somers, director of the Fonds Bijzondere Noden Rotterdam, on behalf of the steering group of the Social Dentist.

That report underlines what we notice every day: a free day is wonderful, but it is a plaster on a bigger problem. There is a need for a lasting solution so that no one with toothache has to stay at home. As a dentist in Rotterdam West we remain committed to that, together with fellow practices and the municipality.

We are proud that together with fifteen other practices we were able to help so many people from Rotterdam. And we thank alderman Abigail Norville for her visit and her attention to this important subject. Accessible dental care is not a luxury, it is a foundation. We will keep working hard for it.