Today, dental care is free even at the age of 24. Now the age limit may be lowered by one year.

S and V voted no

The Social Democrats and the Left Party reserved reservations against the proposal and requested a return, but the others voted in favor. Håkan Linnarsson (S), Opposition Council and 2nd Vice Chairman of the Board of Health, wants the age limit to be increased, not lowered.

- There are many young people who have bad teeth, and they are often those who do not have highly educated parents with high incomes. By this proposal, we mean that we spend money on healthy patients, but at the same time they have not produced data that shows which has benefited most from the 24-year limit, he says.

The opposition council is critical of the facts

He believes that more facts had to be put on the table before the proposal was voted on.

- They want to save on this money but don't care about the consequences. It would not have affected the region's economy if it had been a month longer so that one could find out more about who is most affected by this, says Håkan Linnarsson (S).

"We have a strained economy"

According to Johan Fält (M), member of the Board of Health, it would cost too much money to investigate the proposal further.

- We have a strained economy, and we are determined in our view on this proposal. As far as I know, no other county councils have a 24-year limit for free dental care, so we want to go to the level that the rest of the country has.

The proposal means that started treatments in dental care will be made clear, but that no new treatments will be started after the turn of the year. The final decision will be made by the Regional Board.