Dentists

Dental services are free of charge for children - but not for adults.
Discounts for senior citizens and people with a disability assessment or rehabilitation pension.
It is good to go to a dentist for checkups and periodontal treatment once a year. Regular checkups can prevent tooth decay.
It is therefore important to brush children's teeth daily - from the moment they start teething.
In Iceland, tap water is clean and fresh - water should be chosen rather than fruit juice and other acidic liquids that can damage teeth.
Children's dental services are paid in full by Sjúkratryggingar Íslands except for an annual ISK 2500 visitation fee. (Parents may need to share in the cost in the case of major dental operations).
The prerequisite for SÍ's copayment is that an individual's family dentist has been registered (through the SÍ's "Réttindagátt - Mínar síður" (www.sjukra.is) or at a dentist's office).
The role of a family dentist is, for example, to call children in for regular checkups, to provide preventative services, and necessary dental services.
When an individual turns 18, they are no longer entitled to free dental services.
Sjúkratryggingar Íslands will pay for a portion of the cost of orthodontic services.
The services must be provided by an expert in orthodontics.
SÍ will pay for 95% of the cost if an individual has a cleft palate or a comparable condition.
It is important to be well acquainted with the conditions and rules in this regard.

Prenatal Care and Childbirth

Pregnant women can go in for a prenatal examination.
Should a person not attend a prenatal examination appointment, the healthcare center will follow up with them and notify child protective services if necessary.
Prenatal examinations are free of charge and take place at the healthcare center or in a hospital.
The purpose of prenatal care is to aid the health of mother and child, through support and consultation, by analyzing risk factors and responding to them, as well as by offering general information about pregnancies and births.
Midwives oversee prenatal care and they will consult the general practitioners and obstetricians at healthcare centers if necessary.
www.heilsugaeslan.is/thjonusta-stodvanna/maedravernd /
Once a pregnancy is confirmed, it is advisable to contact a midwife at a healthcare center and make an appointment for the first checkup and consultation.
The first appointment is generally before the 12th week of the pregnancy.
Each person will go in for prenatal care an average of 7-10 times during the pregnancy.
The midwife is available for phone consultation between each examination.
On each visit, the overall health and well-being of the expectant mother is discussed and consultation and education is provided.
The blood pressure is measured and urine is screened for proteins.
The fetus' heart rate is checked from the 16th week onwards.
Screenings are available including for anemia, Hepatitis B and C, HIV and rubella.
In a normal pregnancy, two sonograms are offered, at week 12 and week 20 of the pregnancy, at the fetal diagnosis ward at Landspítalinn university hospital.

Most children in Iceland are born in hospitals and it is not necessary to pay for maternity services at the hospital.
Home births do take place as well, although a midwife will be present during those.
If the birth is without complications, and the mother and child are healthy, they will usually return home the same day or the following day.
After returning home, the midwife will visit and weigh the child, assist with breastfeeding, and monitor the health of mother and child.
These are 6-7 visits in total and the midwife may be contacted by phone if there are any complications between visits.
Once the child is 5-7 days old, it will be taken in for a checkup with a pediatrician. A hearing exam is also performed. The checkup takes place at the children's hospital Barnaspítali Hringsins for residents in the Greater Reykjavík Area.

Infant and Child Care

Healthcare for infants and babies takes place at healthcare centers.
It is available to all parents and is free of charge.
Once a child is 6 weeks old, it will be taken for a medical examination. At month 3, the child will begin its vaccinations.
Nurses and doctors oversee the infant and childcare.
The aim of that care is to monitor the health and development of children from birth until they reach school age and provide parents with consultation and instructions.
www.heilsuvera.is contains a wealth of material about childcare, and the development and health of children.

Vaccinations

Vaccinations are vitally important and save lives.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that vaccinations save approximately 2-3 million lives every year.
Certain diseases have been eradicated through vaccinations and whooping cough, rubella and measles are rarely seen in Iceland anymore - this is thanks to widespread participation in vaccination programs.
Here is a list of the vaccinations children in Iceland receive. https://assets.ctfassets.net/8k0h54kbe6bj/6k3A0qghtZhFRkhCwPJMCI/c980659a40eb94662d762935dbeb6d8b/I__slenska_14.08.2023.pdf

Terminated Pregnancy

In Iceland, there are laws that permit the termination of a pregnancy until the end of the 22nd week. A woman has the right to abort a pregnancy if she wishes to do so.
A pregnancy should always be aborted as soon as possible, preferably before the 12th week of the pregnancy.
The abortion is performed in medical institutions, usually at the gynecology ward at Landspítalinn University Hospital.
The abortion can take place in one of two ways: with the use of pharmaceuticals or surgery.
Should a person/couple choose to terminate a pregnancy then the process is as follows:
- Confirm the pregnancy with a pregnancy test.
- Contact the women's ward by phone at 543 3600 and leave a message which includes the following information: name, identification number, and phone number.
- The women's ward will call back within 48 hours.
- It is also possible to contact the healthcare center to get help requesting an abortion.
The decision to terminate a pregnancy is not an easy one. Social workers at the women's ward at Landspítalinn support women/couples in their decision process (but do not make the decision on their behalf).
Everyone is welcome to seek consultation with a social worker and the consultation is free of charge.
www.landspitali.is/sjuklingar-adstandendur/deildir-og-thjonusta/kvenlaekningadeild-bradamottaka-og-gongudeild

Contraceptives

The contraceptives available in Iceland can be divided into three categories:
- Hormonal drugs (a contraceptive pill, contraceptive ring, contraceptive implant (placed under the skin on the arm)), patch, injection, and an intrauterine device).
- Without hormones (condoms, copper intrauterine device, diaphragm).
- Sterilization procedures.
General practitioners, nurses, midwives, and gynaecologists offer consultation on contraceptive options. That consultation is confidential.
Physicians, as well as nurses and midwives (who hold the requisite permit) can write prescriptions for contraceptives.

Emergency contraceptive pill

If contraceptives have not been used or have failed, it is possible to get an emergency contraceptive pill ("the morning after pill") to prevent ovulation or prevent that the fertilized egg can attach itself to the uterus.
The emergency contraceptive pill must be taken within 72 hours from sexual intercourse (the sooner the better).
The emergency contraceptive pill can be purchased at pharmacies without a prescription.
It is an oral tablet.