Which Dental Treatments Does EHS Cover, and Which Are Self-Pay?
Under Telangana’s New Employees Health Scheme (NEHS), which follows CGHS rates, most medically necessary dental treatments are on the approved list: extractions, fillings, scaling, gum treatment, root canals, basic crowns, bridges, dentures and braces. Dental implants, teeth whitening, veneers and premium upgrades such as zirconia crowns are generally self-pay. How a listed treatment is processed depends on where you’re treated.
If you hold an EHS card, you’ve probably wondered which dental treatments you can get through the scheme and which you’ll pay for yourself. Most online answers are either too vague (“dental treatment is covered”) or out of date, describing the old EHS that was replaced in July 2026.
This guide sorts dental treatments into three simple groups: those usually on the scheme list, those usually self-pay, and an important “upgrade gap” in between that catches many patients by surprise.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. Coverage is decided by the Employees Health Care Trust (EHCT) under the New Employees Health Scheme and may change. Please confirm your eligibility, coverage and costs with the hospital and the official NEHS portal before treatment.
First: "On the List" Isn't the Same as "Cashless Everywhere"
This is the most important thing to understand before reading the lists below.
NEHS uses the CGHS list of approved procedures and rates. Many dental treatments are on that list. But the NEHS guidelines also say:
- Outpatient care, including dental, is “ordinarily” provided through NEHS Wellness Centres
- At empanelled hospitals, outpatient consultations and investigations may be payable by you at CGHS rates
Most dental treatment is outpatient, meaning you don’t stay in hospital. So whether a listed treatment is cashless, partly paid, or routed through a Wellness Centre depends on where you’re treated and how the hospital processes it. Always ask before treatment begins.
Group 1: Usually on the Scheme List
These treatments appear on the CGHS dental procedure list that NEHS follows. They’re generally the medically necessary, everyday treatments.
Category | Examples on the List |
Check-ups and cleaning | Scaling |
Fillings | Temporary fillings, GIC fillings, composite (tooth-coloured) fillings |
Extractions | Routine extractions, complicated extractions, impacted wisdom teeth |
Gum treatment | Root planing, gingivectomy, flap surgery |
Root canal treatment | Single-rooted and multi-rooted teeth, plus re-treatment |
Crowns | PMMA, all-metal (nickel-free), metal with ceramic facing |
Replacing missing teeth | Bridges, complete dentures, removable partial dentures |
Orthodontics | Fixed orthodontic treatment (braces) per arch, removable appliances, space maintainers |
Oral surgery | Removal of jaw cysts and other listed surgical procedures |
Imaging | Dental CBCT (3D scan) and specific dental X-rays |
Our view: use the scheme for prevention, not just emergencies. Scaling and early fillings are on the list, and treating a small cavity early is far simpler than the root canal or extraction it can turn into later.
For root canals specifically, see our guide to root canal treatment under EHS.
Group 2: Usually Self-Pay
These treatments are generally not on the CGHS dental list, mostly because they’re cosmetic, elective, or highly variable in cost.
- Dental implants: not on the CGHS dental list. Our guide to dental implants and EHS explains your options.
- Teeth whitening: cosmetic. See our teeth whitening cost guide.
- Veneers and smile design: cosmetic treatments that change appearance rather than treat disease.
- Clear aligners and Invisalign: not among the listed orthodontic procedures.
- Cosmetic gum contouring and other purely aesthetic procedures.
That doesn’t mean these treatments aren’t worthwhile. It just means you should plan for them as a personal expense.
When Is Self-Pay Worth It?
In our experience, self-pay treatment is most worth considering when it protects your natural teeth or solves a daily problem. Examples include an implant that avoids trimming two healthy neighbouring teeth for a bridge, or a stable implant-supported denture for someone who struggles to eat. Purely cosmetic treatments are a personal choice, and there’s no clinical urgency to them.
Group 3: The "Upgrade Gap" (Where Surprises Happen)
This is the group most patients don’t know about. For some treatments, the basic version is on the list, but the version you may prefer isn’t. If you choose the upgrade, you’ll usually pay the difference, or the full cost, yourself.
Treatment | Listed Version | Common Upgrade (Usually Self-Pay) |
Crowns | PMMA, all-metal, metal-ceramic | Zirconia or all-ceramic crowns |
Braces | Fixed orthodontic treatment | Clear aligners; possibly ceramic or self-ligating braces depending on how they’re processed |
Missing teeth | Bridges, dentures | Implants or implant-supported dentures |
Fillings | GIC and composite fillings | Inlays, onlays or premium materials |
Our opinion: upgrades aren’t upselling when they genuinely suit you. A zirconia crown on a front tooth, for example, looks noticeably more natural than a metal-ceramic one. But you should always be offered the listed option first, with a clear explanation of what the upgrade adds and what it costs. If a hospital moves straight to the premium option without mentioning the covered one, ask why.
Learn more about crown materials on our dental crowns page.
Dental Care for Children and Dependents
Eligible dependents, including children, are covered under NEHS too. For children and teenagers, the listed treatments that matter most are:
- Fillings and extractions for decayed milk or permanent teeth
- Space maintainers, which hold space after a milk tooth is lost early so the permanent tooth can come in properly
- Braces (fixed orthodontic treatment) for teenagers with crowded or misaligned teeth
Early check-ups for children are one of the best uses of the scheme. Small problems caught early rarely need complex treatment later. Our kids dentistry team can advise on timing.
How to Avoid Surprise Bills: Get a Split Estimate
Before any dental treatment under EHS, ask for a written split estimate that shows:
- What will be processed under the scheme (and whether it’s cashless or payable at CGHS rates)
- What you’ll pay yourself, item by item
- The listed option vs any upgrade being recommended, with the price difference
- Any consultation or X-ray charges billed separately
A good hospital will give you this without hesitation. It protects you, and it saves arguments at the billing counter.
Three Common Misunderstandings
“EHS covers all dental treatment.” It covers many treatments on the approved list, but not cosmetic or premium options, and the way outpatient dental care is processed has changed under NEHS.
“My old EHS approval still applies.” The scheme was replaced in July 2026. Hospital empanelment and processes under the old EHS don’t automatically carry over, so check again even if you’ve been treated before.
“If it’s on the list, it’s completely free.” Not necessarily. Depending on where you’re treated, some outpatient consultations or investigations may be payable at CGHS rates, and upgrades are usually self-pay.
What to Bring
- Your NEHS digital health card, or your Employee/Pensioner ID if your card hasn’t been issued yet (the guidelines say you can’t be denied treatment solely because your card isn’t issued)
- Aadhaar card
- Any Wellness Centre referral, if you have one
- Previous dental X-rays and a list of current medicines
Who's Eligible?
NEHS covers serving Telangana state government employees, pensioners and their eligible dependent family members. Certain groups, such as those covered under CGHS, ESI or the railway medical scheme, are excluded. If you’re unsure about your status, check the official NEHS portal at nehs.telangana.gov.in.
A Quick Note on Timing
The scheme is still settling in after its July 2026 launch, and hospital empanelment and processes have been changing. Don’t let that stop you treating a painful tooth or swelling. Get seen promptly and sort the paperwork alongside. Delayed dental problems almost always become bigger, costlier ones.
EHS Dental Treatment at KDH
At Krishna Dental Hospitals, we’ll examine your teeth, explain which parts of your treatment can go through the scheme, and give you a clear split estimate before anything begins. Learn more about our EHS dental treatment at our branches in Kondapur, Kukatpally, Kompally and A.S. Rao Nagar.
Not sure what your EHS card covers? Book your free consultation or call +91 88868 45454 and our team will help you check.
Disclaimer:
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice from your treating dentist. Recovery varies from person to person depending on the tooth treated, the infection present before treatment and your overall health. If you are unsure about any symptom after treatment, contact your dentist. For severe facial swelling, fever or difficulty breathing or swallowing, seek urgent medical care.
Author BIO
Dr. Naresh Krishna Reddy is an MDS Endodontist and the Chairman & Managing Director of Krishna Dental Hospitals, Hyderabad. As a root canal specialist, he focuses on saving natural teeth and guiding patients through comfortable recovery after treatment. He leads KDH’s team of 25 dentists across the A.S. Rao Nagar, Kukatpally, Kondapur and Kompally branches, where the hospital has completed over 5,000 root canal treatments.