Can You Get Teeth Scaling with BPJS? Here Are the Requirements and How to Obtain It
Healthcare services are one of the rights of citizens guaranteed by the government, for example through the National Health Insurance (JKN) managed by BPJS Kesehatan. This programme facilitates access to various healthcare services, including dental care.
The list of dental services covered by BPJS is regulated, among others, through Ministry of Health Regulation No. 3 of 2023. This regulation includes eight types of non-specialist dental healthcare services covered by BPJS, including teeth scaling. However, this service applies only to certain patients.
So, what are the requirements for free teeth scaling covered by BPJS Kesehatan? See the rules below!
Definition of Teeth Scaling
Compiled from OHPD Hong Kong and the Cleveland Clinic website, teeth scaling refers to a dental cleaning procedure to remove plaque, tartar, stains, and bacteria adhering to the tooth surface. This cleaning is typically done by scraping plaque using special cleaning tools up to special paste that can clean the tooth surface.
Teeth scaling has several benefits for dental and oral health, such as eliminating bad breath, preventing tooth and gum damage, and improving dental and oral health.
Requirements for Teeth Scaling with BPJS
Article 3 of Ministry of Health Regulation No. 3 of 2023 states that healthcare services at primary-level facilities covered by BPJS Kesehatan include non-specialist dental healthcare services. There are eight types of dental healthcare services, detailed as follows.
Examination, treatment, and medical consultation
Premedication
Oro-dental emergencies
Extraction of primary teeth using topical or infiltration methods
Extraction of permanent teeth without complications
Post-extraction medication
Dental filling
Teeth scaling for acute gingivitis
From the regulation, it can be seen that teeth scaling is included in the services covered by BPJS, but limited to patients with acute gingivitis. Patients without this medical indication must cover the cost of teeth scaling independently because the condition is categorised as aesthetic treatment.
Based on the Ministry of Health website, gingivitis or gum inflammation itself can be defined as a periodontal disease involving inflammation due to plaque and tartar buildup. This disease is characterised by swelling and redness of the gums. If left untreated, this disease can develop into periodontitis, an infection that can damage teeth and surrounding bone.
How to Get Teeth Scaling with BPJS
Here are the steps needed to access teeth scaling services covered by BPJS.
Register through the Mobile JKN application, the online registration system according to facility regulations, or come directly to the registration counter at the primary-level facility.
Visit the primary-level facility bringing your BPJS card or Mobile JKN application, participant card issued by the facility, and ID card or other identification (driving licence, family card, etc.).
Undergo examination and consultation with the dentist. The dentist will then determine if the patient has an indication of acute gingivitis.
If the examination results show an indication of acute gingivitis, the patient can undergo teeth scaling with costs covered by BPJS.
Affordable Alternatives for Teeth Scaling
For patients without acute gingivitis, teeth scaling must be done by paying out of pocket or covered by insurance other than BPJS. Generally, scaling costs are quite expensive, even reaching hundreds of thousands per jaw.
However, you can still access teeth scaling services at relatively affordable prices at Puskesmas. Usually, Puskesmas offers scaling costs that are much cheaper than at clinics or hospitals.
At Puskesmas Kotagede II in Yogyakarta, for example, teeth scaling per section is priced at only Rp 30,000. However, scaling costs at each Puskesmas may vary, depending on local regulations. Therefore, you need to inquire about the details of scaling costs from the dentist or Puskesmas staff.
You can also consult which tooth sections need cleaning. The dentist will then provide information on whether scaling is needed for all tooth sections or only specific sections. The fewer tooth sections that need cleaning, the cheaper the cost the patient has to pay.
This is the explanation of the requirements for teeth scaling covered by BPJS Kesehatan. Hopefully this answers your question!