Head of Chamber of Dentists: After amalgam ban patients will only get provisional fillings for free

According to Roman Šmucler, President of the Czech Chamber of Dentists, patients who will need a larger filling after the amalgam ban will only receive a provisional filling free of charge. Such a filling is only estimated to last for 3 to 5 years. Šmucler said this was the only filling that would cost less than CZK 900 which is the sum that would be covered by health insurance. According to Ondřej Jakob, a spokesman for the Ministry of Health, Šmucler's remarks are part of the chamber's negotiation tactics. The chamber would like health insurance companies to fully reimburse permanent fillings, the cost of which is around CZK 2,200. The ban on amalgam fillings, due to their mercury content, will take effect in 2026.