People with diabetes in Region Kalmar län are skipping dental check-ups and borrowing money for treatment, while new high-cost protection will not cover examinations or preventive care.
Sweden’s election promises of cheaper dental care, stronger protection against high costs and benefits more closely tied to medical need are unlikely to mean much unless they are turned into policy, a contributor to Barometern-OT argued in a recent opinion piece. The issue is especially important for people with diabetes, for whom access to dental care is not a side matter but part of day-to-day disease management.
The writer pointed to figures suggesting there are about 700,000 people living with diabetes in Sweden, including around 20,000 in Region Kalmar län. Diabetes is linked to a higher risk of gum disease and tooth decay, and poor oral health can in turn make blood sugar harder to control. That creates a vicious circle: worsening mouth health can fuel more complications, while complications can further erode quality of life.
Data from Diabetesbarometern 2026, as cited in the piece, suggest that cost remains a serious barrier. In Region Kalmar län, 13% of respondents with diabetes said they had skipped an examination or preventive dental visit in the past year because they could not afford it, while 5% said they had borrowed money to pay for treatment. The article argues that this is especially troubling because preventive care can reduce later problems and may also support better diabetes control. Socialstyrelsen has previously found that measures improving oral health and blood sugar control can be cost-effective from a broader societal perspective.
The article calls for the special dental care allowance, or STB, to be expanded for people at higher risk of oral disease, including those with diabetes. That comes as Kalmar County prepares a separate strengthening of dental high-cost protection from 1 January 2026 for people aged 67 and older, under which many treatments will be heavily subsidised. But according to Region Kalmar and the 1177 information service, examinations and preventive care are not included in that scheme, underscoring the gap the writer wants to see closed. Svenska Diabetesförbundet, the article notes, has also argued that dental care should ultimately be folded into the wider health system and covered by the general high-cost protection.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
