There is limited dental cover in the public system. It consists of education and preventative care to children, limited preventative care for adults, thorough dental examinations for pregnant women and extraction of teeth for patients in acute pain.

Health insurance policies tend to pay partial dental fees for treatment, though with a hefty list of conditions. Routine check-ups, hygienist, straightening and cosmetic treatments are sometimes excluded even in comprehensive plans.

Mapfre’s ‘Salud Dental’ standalone dental plan costs around €70 per insured family member with optional supplements in case of hospitalisation, so annual family cover is likely to come out at nearly €300. Orthodontist fees for children are subsidised.

Sanitas offers a similar plan, ‘Sanitas Dental’, which works out more expensive per adult. A yearly premium comes to €260 for a couple, but children under six are free. Existing general policyholders with Sanitas get reduced rates.

Most dentists recommend the age of one as the first appointment, and parents in the public system should take advantage of the cover.

The dental practices listed here are suggested by various diplomatic missions in Barcelona, and many speak English.