HOW TO CLAIM BACK FOR DENTAL TREATMENT:

TAX RELIEF Dental expenses such as scaling, filling and extractions are not eligible for medical tax relief at 20%. But specialist treatments are, including implants, which are covered under periodontal treatment. You don’t have to send in receipts, but you must keep them for six years in case the Revenue want to see them. You can claim for expenses going back four years. HEALTH INSURANCE Many policies cover dental work. With basic policies or poor-value mid-range plans it may be only in the event of an emergency. But good mid-range plans cover routine dental care. Laya’s Simply Connect Plus, for example, allows you to claim up to €1,000 a year for routine expenses. This includes work such as fillings but not elective procedures like implants. CASH PLANS Cashplans like the nonprofit-making Hospital Saturday Fund are a great way to cover dentist bills. Even the most basic plan – the HSF Family Direct Scheme 1, costing just €135 a year – allows you to claim 50% of dental and optical bills up to €80. So you could probably get over half of your premium back on those alone. A more advanced plan, like the €600-a-year One Scheme 4, allows claims up to €600 for dental and optical work.