Best Dental Insurance Germany [Ultimate 2024 Guide] (2024)

Supplemental dental insurance plans complement public health insurance or private health insurance, providing extensive coverage for dental treatment costs. Secure your oral health and financial well-being by understanding various dental insurance options.

Key takeaways

• Health insurance companies in Germany cover basic dental care and part of the dental treatment costs.
• Dental treatments like inlay, root canals, implants, etc., are quite expensive in Germany. For example, an inlay costs around 720 €, and an implant can cost approx. 4500 €.
• Good supplementary dental insurance covers 80 to 100% of the treatment cost. But the dental insurance plans that cover 100% of the dental cost are expensive.
• Supplemental dental insurance providers in Germany apply reimbursem*nt limits in the first 4 to 5 years of signing the contract.
• As per studies, 90% of adults have dental issues.

This is how you do it

• Identify if you need dental insurance based on your age, health habits, dental treatment costs, and insurance costs.
• You should not wait to get dental insurance until dental problems start, as dental insurance won’t cover existing dental issues.
• You can consider getting dental treatment in your home country if it’s cheaper. You can also set aside some money for dental treatments in a savings account instead of taking dental insurance.
• If you decide to take dental insurance in Germany, we find Ottonova*, Deutsche Familienversicherung AG*, and Hallesche Zahnzusatzversicherung* as one of the best dental insurance providers in Germany as of July 2023.

Table of Contents

Based on studies, 90% of adults suffer from some kind of dental problem. Depending on the dental issue, the treatment costs can go from 100€ to a few thousand quickly.

Moreover, your health insurance company doesn’t cover the entire dental treatment cost. Hence, getting additional dental insurance seems like a good idea at first glance. But it’s not always the case.

This guide will teach you what a good dental insurance policy covers and when it’s worth taking.

What is the Approximate Cost of Dental Treatments in Germany?

Here are the average costs of the most common dental treatments in Germany.

• Dentures cost: An inlay costs approx. 720 €, and an implant can go up to 4500 €.
• Periodontal treatment cost: Annual periodontal treatments cost between 189€ to 507€. And the cost increases significantly with age.
• Preventive dental care cost: Professional dental cleanings are the most common type of preventive dental care. Professional cleanings cost between 100 € and 150 €.

As dentures are the most expensive of all dental treatments in Germany, let’s look deeper into their costs.

Source: 1, 2, 3

What is the probability of catching dental diseases?

• About 90% of adults have at least one cavity. [1]
• Over 50% of the European population suffers from some form of periodontitis. The percentage increases to 70 – 85% by 60 – 65 years of age. [2]
• About 10% of the European population has severe gum disease. [2]

As you can see, catching a dental disease is inevitable. And dental treatments can cost thousands of euros.

Hence, having some form of insurance to cover dental costs makes sense.

But before we look into if you need additional dental insurance, let’s check what dental treatment costs public and private health insurance providers cover.

Dental care coverage by public health insurance in Germany

Statutory health insurance companies provide a subsidy on dental treatment costs. The subsidy is usually 60% of the dental cost. And you bear the rest.

Moreover, the dental treatment cost is based on standard care or basic treatment.

What is “standard care” in Germany?

Federal Joint Committee (Gemeinsamer Bundesaussschuss) determined which dental treatments are sufficient, necessary, and economical for which diagnosis.

These necessary dental treatments come under so-called “standard care”(Regelversorgung in German).

Unfortunately, dental treatments that are part of standard care are very basic treatments. They are rarely the best treatments for your teeth from a medical point of view.

Hence, dentists often recommend more advanced dental treatment if you can afford it.

What dental treatments do public health insurance providers cover?

Public health insurance providers cover all dental treatments listed as necessary by the Federal Joint Committee. Usually, it doesn’t include cosmetic dental treatments.

You can find a complete list of treatments on the Federal Joint Committee’s website. Here are the common dental treatments statutory health insurers cover.

• Tooth decay/replacement of fillings/Basic fillings
• Tooth replacement
• Root canal treatments
• Tooth extractions
• Professional teeth cleaning (once a year)
• Periodontitis treatment

If you opt for dental treatment other than the ones under standard care, you must pay the extra amount.

How to save on dental care costs?

You have the possibility to increase the subsidy up to 75%. You can do so by having regular dental check-ups (annually for adults and every six months for children).

In Germany, dentists maintain a bonus booklet (Bonusheft) for preventive dental check-ups. Every time you visit your dentist, they stamp on this booklet.

So, if you had regular check-ups for the past five years, the health insurance subsidy increases to 70%. Similarly, if you had regular check-ups over ten years, it is 75%.

Hence, visit your local dentist at least once a year and ensure your dentist stamps the bonus booklet. It’ll not only keep your teeth healthy but also save you a lot of money in the future.

For whom does public health insurance cover complete dental costs?

If you meet one of the below requirements, the statutory health insurance provider will assume the entire dental cost.

• You earn less than 1316 € gross per month.
• You are getting assistance from the government. E.g., basic security benefits in old age or in the event of reduced earning capacity or unemployment benefit II, etc.
• A social welfare agency (Sozialhilfeträger) pays your accommodation costs.

Of course, the dental costs are for treatments under standard care only.

People who satisfy the above requirements come under hardship regulations (Härtefallregelung).

Dental care coverage by private health insurance in Germany

Dental coverage by private health insurance varies widely based on your tariff. But here are the dental services most private health insurance providers offer.

1. Preventive dental care (Prophylaxis)

Preventive dental treatments are the ones that hinder the development of diseases in the teeth.

• Professional dental cleaning: plaque and tartar removal, teeth whitening, etc.
• Oral hygiene consultation
• Fissure sealing/Sealing molars

2. Tooth preservation

Dental treatments for preventing the degeneration of your jawbone and teeth.

• Treatments with modern composite materials (composite fillings)
• Services for root canal treatments: The cost of using modern methods during root canal treatment.

3. Dentures

• Dental crowns and inlays
• Bridges
• Dental implants
• Dentures

4. Orthodontics: Private insurance pays for medically necessary orthodontic treatments only.

Many of you might consider switching from public to private health insurance for better dental coverage. But read our guide on private vs. public health insurance in Germany before making that decision.

If you know that private health insurance is better for you, you can compare different private health insurance providers on the comparison portal Check24*.

You can also check Feather*. They offer services in English.

Supplemental Dental Insurance Germany

Public and private health insurance providers offer basic dental coverage. Hence, taking additional private dental insurance in Germany makes sense.

However, there are several dental insurance providers in Germany. And each offers multiple plans. So, how to find the best dental insurance in Germany?

Here are some guidelines for picking the best dental insurance plan in Germany.

What should a good dental insurance policy in Germany cover?

The best dental insurance plans offer the following services.

• 80 to 90% of dentures cost coverage
• Periodontitis treatment coverage
• Preventive dental care coverage (Dental prophylaxis)
• No annual reimbursem*nt limit and a short waiting period

80 to 90% of dentures cost coverage

• Based on the dental disease stats, your dental cover must offer good coverage for cavity treatments or dental prostheses (dental crown, dental implant, denture, root canal treatment, etc.).
• Dentures can be very expensive. An inlay may cost approx. 720 €, and an implant can go up to 4500 €. Thus, the best dental insurance plans cover 80 to 90% of the denture cost.
• Your health insurance (public or private) also provides subsidies or covers part of the treatment costs. So, check whether your health insurer’s subsidy is part of the 80-90% cost coverage or not. If it is, you bear 20-10% of the invoice amount; otherwise, you’ll bear even less.
• Some supplemental dental insurance providers even cover 100% of the cost. But they are usually very expensive. So, check what is cheaper: to pay a higher insurance premium or the dental cost difference.
• A good supplemental dental insurance tariff pays for high-quality material. For example, using plastic, ceramic, gold, or titanium for inlay fillings.
• Like in public health insurance policy, you can save on supplemental dental insurance by having yearly dental check-ups. Thus, ensure your bonus booklet (Bonusheft) is stamped.

Periodontitis treatment coverage

• The next most common dental disease is periodontitis. Thus, having it as part of your dental cover makes sense.
• Annual periodontal treatments cost between 189€ to 507€. And the cost increases significantly with age.
• Public health insurance providers don’t cover all types of periodontitis treatments.

Preventive dental care coverage (Dental prophylaxis)

• Having provisions for preventive dental care is not a must in supplemental dental insurance in Germany.
• The most common preventive dental care is professional dental cleaning. And it costs between 100 € to 150 €.
• Depending on your current dental health, you’ll need professional cleaning once or twice yearly.
• Public health insurance companies also provide a subsidy for professional cleaning. For example, TK* offers a one-off subsidy of up to 40 € a year for professional dental cleaning.

No annual reimbursem*nt limit and waiting period

• The best dental insurance tariffs have no waiting period. Dental insurance companies do not pay for dental treatments during the waiting period.
• Dental insurance companies put an annual cap during the first 4 to 5 years of signing the contract. After this time, there should be no reimbursem*nt limit. For example, Deutsche Familienversicherung* puts an annual cap in the first 48 months and no annual limit afterward.
• No annual limit doesn’t mean your supplementary dental insurance will pay any invoice amount. Insurance companies pay bills up to the applicable maximum rates set by the regulators.
• Always request a cost estimate (Heil- und Kostenplan) from your dentist before starting a major dental treatment. Submit the cost estimate to your dental insurance company. And once your insurer confirms how much costs they’ll cover, you can start the treatment.

NOTE: It’s critical that your dental insurance plan have no or high annual limit as you cannot increase it in the future.

Of course, you can change your insurance provider. However, it comes at the cost of the waiting period, annual reimbursem*nt caps, and high monthly premiums, and the insurer may not cover the costs for known dental diseases.

We find Ottonova*, Deutsche Familienversicherung AG*, and Hallesche Zahnzusatzversicherung* among Germany’s best dental insurance providers as of July 2023.

What does supplemental dental insurance not cover?

You should be aware of the following rules before you take out supplementary dental insurance:

• Known dental diseases: Supplementary dental insurance providers don’t cover costs for treatments your dentist already advised or has started before you took the insurance.
• Waiting period: Many dental insurance tariffs have a waiting period. The insurer doesn’t pay for the dental treatment during the waiting period.
• Application rejection: Many supplementary dental insurance providers reject your application if you have serious or existing dental issues. Hence, taking a good dental insurance policy is advisable as soon as you start seeing dental health issues or enter your 40s.
• Annual reimbursem*nt limit in the first few years: Dental insurance providers put a reimbursem*nt limit in the first 4 to 5 years of signing the contract. During this time, you pay the excess amount.
• Limit on material and equipment costs: Dental insurers often limit material and equipment costs for dental treatments. For example, your insurer refers to a list of prices and services for materials and laboratories while reimbursing the treatment costs.
• Limit on number of implants: Another limitation some dental insurance companies put in is the number of implants. For example, your dental insurer will cover 8 implants in total.
• Dental insurance contributions increase with age.
• You often pay 10 to 20% of the dental cost, even with supplementary dental insurance.

Considering all the factors, we find Ottonova*, Deutsche Familienversicherung AG*, and Hallesche Zahnzusatzversicherung* as one of the best dental insurance providers in Germany as of July 2023.

Who needs supplementary dental insurance in Germany?

There are four things one should consider before taking dental insurance in Germany.

• Age
• Health habits
• Dental treatment cost
• Dental insurance cost

Age

Source: NIH

Based on the data, we encourage people over 40 to consider getting a supplemental dental insurance policy.

Health habits

You must answer the following questions to determine when and what dental insurance you may need.

• How much time and effort do you spend on your dental care?
• How often do you visit a dentist for preventive dental care?
• Do you smoke?
• Do you have a history of dental diseases?

People who don’t visit a dentist regularly and smoke should get dental insurance sooner rather than later. We recommend smokers over 35 should get dental insurance.

On the other hand, non-smokers who maintain their dental hygiene and visit a dentist regularly can delay taking dental insurance based on their dental health.

Individuals with healthy habits and teeth should still take dental insurance as they reach 50 years of age. The reason is simple, the probability of developing a dental problem is very high once you reach 50.

Dental treatment cost

Dentures are the most expensive dental treatments in Germany. They may cost from 720 € to 4500 €.

Hence, if you need a lot of high-priced dentures in the future, taking a good dental insurance policy is worthwhile.

Dental insurance cost

Last but not least, consider the cost of supplemental dental insurance. Sometimes, dental treatments are cheaper than dental insurance contributions.

Hence, observe carefully what treatments you may need before taking dental insurance.

Conclusion

We understand it’s difficult to know when to take supplemental dental insurance. But you can use the above factors to determine a good time to take one.

In general, start thinking about dental insurance once you reach 35.

Who doesn’t need supplemental dental insurance in Germany?

• People under 35 with healthy teeth and habits don’t need supplemental dental insurance in Germany. Moreover, public and private health insurers cover basic dental treatments.
• If you don’t have policies like personal liability insurance, which is more important than dental insurance, you should get those first. You can read more about which types of insurance are must-haves in Germany here.

Best Dental Insurance Plans in Germany – Quick Overview

Considering all the factors, we find Ottonova*, Deutsche Familienversicherung AG*, and Hallesche Zahnzusatzversicherung* as one of the best dental insurance providers in Germany as of July 2023.

Among these three, Deutsche Familienversicherung AG* is the best dental insurance provider offering better policy conditions.

• Professional dental cleaning coverage
• Teeth whitening (Bleaching) coverage
• GOZ guarantee: It means newly added (currently unknown) medical treatments will also be covered in the future.
• Trust pilot ratings: Best rating among the three.

Trust pilot ratings

Table comparing tariffs from different dental insurance providers in Germany

Alternatives to dental insurance Germany

• Check if dental treatments are cheaper in your country: Many times, dental treatments in your home country might be cheaper than in Germany. For example, dental treatments in most Asian countries are cheaper than in Germany.
• Set aside dental care money in a savings account: Instead of paying an insurance premium, you can set aside some money every month for your dental care. The best way is to put the money in a savings account and earn some interest. You can open a savings account (Festgeld) and earn up to 3.5% interest annually. You can compare the savings account here*.

How to save on dental treatment costs?

Here are six ways to save on dental treatment costs.

1. Get a subsidy on treatment costs with the bonus booklet (Bonusheft)
2. Apply for hardship regulation
3. Get cost estimates from multiple dentists
4. Compare supplementary dental insurance policies
5. Get free advice on dental insurance policies from the consumer advice center.
6. Deduct dental treatment costs from the tax.

Get a subsidy on treatment costs with the bonus booklet (Bonusheft)

Public health insurance companies increase the subsidy amount if you visit a dentist regularly for preventive dental care.

• Increase the subsidy from 60% to 70% for 5 years of regular dental check-ups.
• Increase the subsidy from 75% for 10 years of regular dental check-ups.

Dentists in Germany use bonus booklets to record patients’ visits and preventive dental treatments. Thus, you can use it as proof to claim the subsidy.

Supplementary dental insurance also offers more or cheaper services to people who visit a dentist regularly.

Apply for hardship regulation

Public health insurance in Germany covers the complete cost of dental treatments for low earners.

NOTE: Public insurance providers cover the cost of dental treatments as per “standard care” only. If you opt for a higher-quality treatment, you bear the cost difference.

The public insurer considers anyone with a gross income less than 1358 € per month (as of 2023) as low earners.

Moreover, the gross income limit increases to 1867.25 € if a relative lives in your household. The limit increases further by 339.50 € for each additional relative.

You can avail yourself of hardship regulation benefits by submitting an application to your health insurance provider.

For TK customers, you must submit the following application “Antrag Zuschuss zum Eigen­an­teil Zahn­er­satz.“

Get cost estimates from multiple dentists

You should always get a second opinion when getting expensive advanced dental treatments. The dental treatment costs may vary drastically between different dental clinics.

Hence, get a cost estimate from at least two dental practices before starting the treatment. Moreover, ask your dentist to explain the pros and cons of different treatments before deciding.

You can also get free advice on different dental treatments from the dental patient advice service (Zahnärztliche Patientenberatung) or your health insurer.

Compare supplementary dental insurance policies

There are several dental insurance providers in Germany. Each of them offers different services at different prices.

Hence, comparing various offers against each other is only logical.

We find Ottonova*, Deutsche Familienversicherung AG*, and Hallesche Zahnzusatzversicherung* as one of Germany’s best dental insurance providers as of July 2023.

Get advice on dental insurance policies from the consumer advice center

Some consumer advice centers (Verbraucherzentral) offer advice on supplementary dental insurance tariffs. They can access software that compares different dental insurance providers’ services and costs.

Hence, contacting a consumer advice center before taking a dental insurance policy is worthwhile.

Deduct dental treatment costs from the tax

You could add the dental treatment costs to your income tax return as an extraordinary expense if the treatment was medically necessary.

The tax office deducts a percentage of your salary (aka reasonable burden) from the treatment costs. And considers the difference for tax purposes.

The percentage depends on your income, marital status, and number of children.

FAQs on dental insurance Germany

Do I have to pay for my dental treatments upfront in Germany?

No, dentists in Germany cannot legally demand you to pay in advance for your treatment. Only after conducting the treatment can the doctor ask for payment.

Moreover, the dentist must provide an invoice, and then you make the payment.

Later, you can forward the invoice to your supplementary dental insurance or health insurance company for reimbursem*nt.

NOTE: Always ask for a cost estimate from the dentist before starting the treatment. Submit the cost estimate to your insurer. Only when your insurer confirms the portion of the cost it’ll cover should you start the treatment.

What are the waiting periods and restrictions that dental insurance companies in Germany apply?

Many dental insurers in Germany have a waiting period of 8 months when you sign up. During the waiting period, the insurer doesn’t pay for dental treatments.

Dental insurance providers also apply annual caps on reimbursem*nt during the first 4 to 5 years of signing the contract.

The reimbursem*nt sum increases with time. And after the first 4 to 5 years, there is no reimbursem*nt limit in good dental insurance plans.

Is it Worth to Buy Supplemental Dental Insurance In Germany?

You don’t need dental insurance if you are under 35 with healthy teeth and maintain dental hygiene.

On the other hand, we recommend getting dental insurance sooner than later for smokers who don’t maintain dental hygiene.

Ultimately, it depends on your age, health habits, dental treatment costs, and insurance costs.

We find Ottonova*, Deutsche Familienversicherung AG*, and Hallesche Zahnzusatzversicherung* as one of the best dental insurance providers in Germany as of July 2023.

Does dental insurance contribution change with age in Germany?

Yes, dental insurance contribution increases with age.

How can I find emergency dentists in Germany?

Simply dial 116117 in emergencies to find the right doctor near you. They also provide medical advice on the phone if possible.

You can also visit www.116117.de to find dental emergency services near you.

What is not covered by supplemental dental insurance in Germany?

Supplementary dental insurance doesn’t cover known dental diseases and ongoing dental treatments. You can read more about the restrictions dental insurance companies apply here.

References

• https://www.verbraucherzentrale.de/wissen/gesundheit-pflege/krankenversicherung/zahnzusatzversicherung-risiken-und-vorteile-41293
• https://www.test.de/Zahnzusatzversicherung-im-Test-4730314-5728577/
• https://www.dentolo.de/ratgeber/zahnersatz-kosten/
• https://www.ottonova.de/en/v/dental-insurance-plan
• https://www.g-ba.de/richtlinien/27/
• https://www.lebenshilfe.de/informieren/familie/rund-um-den- mund/zahnersatz-was-zahlt-die-krankenkasse
• https://www.allianz.de/gesundheit/private-krankenversicherung/zahn/
• https://www.transparent-beraten.de/private-krankenversicherung/zahnbehandlungen/
• https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/fast-facts/cavities/index.html
• http://www.oralhealthplatform.eu/our-work/the-state-of-oral-health-in-europe/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29981185/
• https://www.tk.de/en/service-faqs/tk-benefits-doctor/professional-teeth-cleaning-2136362?tkcm=ab
• https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/research/data-statistics/dental-caries/adults
• https://www.verbraucherzentrale.de/wissen/gesundheit-pflege/aerzte-und-kliniken/igel-keine-vorkasse-bei-selbstzahlerleistungen-12353
• https://www.kzbv.de/zahlungswege.41.de.html
• https://www.kann-man-das-absetzen.de/zahnarzt/