Dentistry in Latvia
free for children, full price for adults
- Register check: State register of medical practitioners (opens in a new window)
- State-funded services: National Health Service (opens in a new window)
- Noticed outdated info? Report it
A dentist gives advice on toothache, sensitivity and mouth-related questions, and tells you when an in-person visit is needed. A remote conversation helps you understand how urgent it is.
The consultation happens over video, so it works the same in Riga, Daugavpils, Liepāja, Jelgava, Jūrmala, Ventspils and Rēzekne.
No verified doctor in this specialty yet
We check every certificate by hand, so the list grows step by step. Choose another specialty or start with a family doctor.
Known dental specialists in Latvia
The list we currently have contains no entries under general dentistry, but it does include narrower specialists.
Endodontists: Aleksandra Kārkle; Ilana Osinska; Katrīna Andrejeva; Kristīne Aleksāne; Laila Ludbārža-Trušele.
Periodontists: Agnese Miķelsone; Inese Stašinska; Inguna Grīnvalde; Jeļena Romanova; Nataļja Sergejeva.
The list also contains 12 oral and maxillofacial surgeons, who have their own page. Any specialist's registration can be checked in the state register (opens in a new window).
When to call 113 instead of booking
- Facial or neck swelling that makes breathing or swallowing difficult.
- High fever with rapidly increasing swelling of the cheek or gum.
- Inability to open the mouth, with pain and fever.
- Bleeding after a tooth extraction that will not stop.
- Facial injury with jaw deformity or knocked-out teeth together with loss of consciousness.
Rapidly spreading facial swelling from a dental infection is an emergency, not a reason to wait for an appointment.
What the state funds and for whom
| Group | What the state covers |
|---|---|
| Children under 18 | Dental services in full |
| Children aged 2 to 18 | Dental hygiene once a year |
| Children aged 7, 11 and 12 | Dental hygiene twice a year |
| Children under 18 | First orthodontic consultation |
| Congenital cleft lip and palate, and severe jaw and facial deformities | Orthodontic treatment up to age 25 |
| Chernobyl clean-up participants and persons defined in law | 50 per cent of dental costs, and removable plastic dentures in full |
| Asylum seekers | Dental care in acute cases |
For adults outside these groups, dentistry is a fully private service.
The National Health Service states that children under 18 can also receive state-funded dental treatment under general anaesthesia where set criteria are met, including where local anaesthesia is unsuitable.
The Service has also announced that state-funded fissure sealants and fluoride varnish are available in children's dentistry.
The children's hygiene schedule
- Ages 2 to 18: state-funded dental hygiene once a year.
- Ages 7, 11 and 12: twice a year.
Public sources explain that these ages are chosen because permanent teeth are erupting and caries risk is higher, so oral health needs more frequent monitoring and preventive work.
Saturday emergency care for children
The National Health Service states that state-funded dental care is available to children under 18 on Saturdays in acute cases.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Where | Rīga, Ogre, Valmiera, Liepāja and Daugavpils |
| For what | Acute, persistent toothache; cheek or gum swelling; dental trauma |
| How it works | Walk-in, in order of arrival |
| Advice | Contact the provider before travelling to discuss the symptoms and what to do |
The dentist assesses whether each case qualifies as acute.
Finding a clinic with a state contract
This is the most common misunderstanding in this field: not every dental practice works with the state, so a child's visit can turn out to be chargeable if the clinic has no contract.
- Providers of state-funded dental services and indicative queue lengths are listed on Rinda pie ārsta - public waiting-list data (rindapiearsta.lv) (opens in a new window) under "Zobārstniecība".
- The National Health Service states that 268 providers deliver state-funded children's dental care across Latvia. The figure changes over time, so check the current list on the portal.
- For questions, call the National Health Service's free information line 8000 1234 or write to nvd@vmnvd.gov.lv.
- When booking, ask directly whether this particular visit for your child will be state-funded.
How to verify registration
- 1Open Health Inspectorate - register of medical practitioners (registri.vi.gov.lv) (opens in a new window).
- 2Enter the specialist's surname or practitioner identifier.
- 3Look for the relevant profession: dentist, dental hygienist, endodontist, periodontist or orthodontist.
- 4Check the registration validity date.
- 5For a state-funded visit, separately confirm that the provider holds a National Health Service contract.
Glossary
- Endodontist
- the specialist treating the tooth's internal tissue and performing root canal treatment.
- Periodontist
- the specialist treating gum and supporting tissue disease.
- Orthodontist
- the specialist correcting bite and tooth position.
- Dental hygienist
- the specialist providing professional oral hygiene and prevention.
- Fissure sealants
- a protective coating on chewing surfaces to prevent caries.
- Fluoride varnish
- a preventive coating strengthening enamel.
- Walk-in queue
- attendance without an appointment, in order of arrival.
- Voucher
- the unit of state-funded service for which the provider is reimbursed.
How to choose
- The NVD contract. For a child this is the decisive question, since without one the visit is chargeable.
- Queue length. rindapiearsta.lv shows indicative queue lengths by provider.
- Paediatric dentist. Some clinics list a separate paediatric dentistry service that includes working with a child's anxiety.
- Sub-specialty. Root canal work belongs with endodontists, gum disease with periodontists.
- General anaesthesia. If a child needs treatment under general anaesthesia, choose a provider offering it and check the criteria are met.
When to bring a child first
Public sources recommend:
- A first dental visit within six months of the first tooth appearing, or by the child's first birthday.
- Where there are no specific problems, preventive visits to a paediatric dentist and hygienist every six months.
- A hygienist visit once a year from the age of two.
Baby teeth matter, because decayed baby teeth can cause pain and infection and affect the health of permanent teeth and the correct development of the bite.
Cost
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Dentistry for a child under 18 at an NVD-contracted provider | 0.00 EUR (National Health Service of Latvia (opens in a new window), price list checked 8 August 2026) |
| Children's dental hygiene on schedule | 0.00 EUR (NVD, price list checked 8 August 2026) |
| First orthodontic consultation under 18 | 0.00 EUR (NVD, price list checked 8 August 2026) |
| Dentistry for an adult without an exemption | full price per clinic list EUR (Latvian Public Media (opens in a new window), price list checked 8 August 2026) |
| Dentistry for Chernobyl clean-up participants | 50 per cent EUR (NVD, price list checked 8 August 2026) |
| Removable plastic dentures for that group | in full EUR (NVD, price list checked 8 August 2026) |
Public sources state that adults who work and are not classed as low-income pay the full price for dental services.
Professional associations and oversight
- Latvijas Zobārstu asociācija (Latvian Dental Association), registration number 40008034096, president Anda Brikmane, Latvian Dental Association (lza-zobi.lv) (opens in a new window).
- Latvijas Bērnu zobārstu asociācija, registration number 40008340606.
- Latvijas Ortodontu asociācija, registration number 50008126621, contact Pēteris Sosārs, Latvian Association of Orthodontists (ortodontija.lv) (opens in a new window).
- Latvijas Mutes, sejas un žokļu ķirurgu asociācija, registration number 40008265539, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Centre (mszka.lv) (opens in a new window).
The sector regulator is the Health Inspectorate, while the National Health Service organises state-funded services.
Patient rights and complaints
If you have doubts about the quality of care, raise them first with the provider's management. If that does not resolve it, a written submission goes to the Health Inspectorate no later than two years after the alleged infringement, and is reviewed within 30 days, extendable to four months in complex cases. The procedure is set out on the Health Inspectorate site (opens in a new window).
If you were charged for something that should have been state-funded, you can raise it with the National Health Service on 8000 1234.
FAQ
Is dental care free for children?
Yes, the state funds dental services for children under 18, but only at providers holding a National Health Service contract.
Why was I charged for my child's visit?
Not every dental practice contracts with the state. Check the provider on rindapiearsta.lv before booking.
How often is a child entitled to dental hygiene?
Once a year from ages 2 to 18, and twice a year at ages 7, 11 and 12.
Is anything covered for adults?
Certain groups, including Chernobyl clean-up participants, have 50 per cent of costs covered; for everyone else dentistry is private.
Where do I go with a child's toothache on a Saturday?
State-funded acute care is available in Rīga, Ogre, Valmiera, Liepāja and Daugavpils on a walk-in basis.
This page was reviewed by Sergejs Ponomarjovs, from the E-Medicīna team. More about us.
Sources, last-reviewed footer and fact-check
Last reviewed: 8 August 2026
Related specialties
Report an error: error@emd.lv