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Dental Insurance in Germany – Coverage Explained
- Statutory health insurance in Germany (GKV) only covers basic, medically necessary dental care using standard materials.
- Private supplementary dental insurance closes gaps left by public health insurance by covering high-quality materials, implants, orthodontics, and cosmetic treatments. Premium tariffs may offer comprehensive dental coverage.
- Private health insurance (PKV) usually offers broader dental coverage based on individually agreed-upon terms. Therefore, you do not need supplemental dental insurance as a privately insured person.
- Coverage levels, reimbursement rates, annual caps, and exclusions vary significantly between dental insurance providers and plans.
- Selecting the right insurance depends on your dental health needs, financial goals, and treatment expectations.
- Dental insurance costs for a supplemental plan are very affordable. Depending on the plan and scope of coverage, prices start at just €10.
What does dental insurance in Germany cover?
Dental insurance in Germany varies depending on whether you’re insured under the statutory health system (GKV), have private comprehensive health insurance (PKV), or a private supplementary dental plan.
Difference between public and private dental coverage
People with statutory insurance in Germany pay income-based contributions, and the insurance benefits are the same for everyone. GKV reimburses standardized, medically necessary dental treatments such as basic fillings, metal-based dental crowns, and simple dentures. Materials and methods are limited, and upgrades must be paid out of pocket.
In contrast, PKV and private supplementary dental insurance (Zahnzusatzversicherung, only for those with statutory insurance) include individually agreed-upon dental coverage. Depending on the plan, it can cover professional teeth cleaning, implants, ceramic restorations, orthodontics for adults, and cosmetic procedures — with benefits and reimbursement rates contractually defined. Supplemental dental insurance offers coverage comparable to comprehensive private insurance.
What does “medically necessary” mean in statutory insurance?
Public health insurance coverage only applies to treatments needed to maintain basic function and oral health, typically limited to the cheapest materials and treatment methods. Cosmetic procedures, aesthetic materials (like ceramic), or functional upgrades are excluded unless medically justified.
Why supplemental dental insurance closes important gaps
Additional dental insurance helps cover treatments that statutory health insurance funds exclude or only partially reimburse, such as implants, ceramic restorations, orthodontics, and preventative treatments like professional dental cleaning.
Well-chosen plans can significantly reduce out-of-pocket expenses and offer access to comprehensive dental care.
In the statutory health insurance scheme, patients can qualify for higher reimbursement rates for dental treatments if they regularly attend preventive dental check-ups. Proof of these visits is documented in a so-called “Bonus Booklet”. If you have documented annual check-ups for at least 5 consecutive years, the statutory subsidy for dentures increases from 60% to 70% of the standard treatment cost.
The subsidy rises to 75% after 10 consecutive years. You will also receive the subsidies for standard dental treatments if you have additional private dental insurance.
Preventive dental care – what’s included?
Preventive dental care helps maintain oral health and reduce the risk of costly treatments. Regarding frequency and conditions of reimbursement, coverage levels vary between statutory, private, and supplementary insurance plans.
GKV covers 2 annual dental check-ups for adults, including basic exams and oral hygiene advice. Children and adolescents benefit from broader programs, including fluoride treatments and molar fissure sealing.
Private and supplementary plans often allow frequent preventive visits and treatments — usually without a medical indication.
Professional teeth cleanings: When are they covered?
GKV only reimburses professional cleanings when medically necessary due to periodontal treatments.
Depending on the tariff, Supplementary plans typically cover 1 or 2 cleanings per year fully or partially — with premium tariffs typically covering full annual cleanings to support long-term dental health.
Fluoride treatments, diagnostics, and sealing
GKV covers preventive treatments like fluoride varnishes and sealing for children and adolescents up to age 18. These are considered elective for adults and must be paid out of pocket unless included in a private supplementary plan.
Premium policies typically cover fluoride treatments and early diagnostics for adults to prevent future restorative costs.
Fillings and dental restoration
Fillings and dental restorations are among the most common procedures in Germany — but coverage and material choice vary depending on whether you’re insured under GKV, PKV, or a supplementary plan.
Amalgam, composite, and ceramic fillings
Germany uses 3 main materials for dental fillings:
- Amalgam is inexpensive and long-lasting, but due to health and environmental concerns, it is only used in rare medical cases.
- Composite (tooth-colored) fillings are the current standard, especially for visible front teeth.
- Ceramic inlays are the most aesthetic, durable option, and expensive — typically only reimbursed by private and supplementary insurance.
Which materials are covered and under what conditions
GKV covers composite fillings for front teeth and, in some cases, for molars — but upgrades often require co-payments.
Ceramic inlays and other high-end materials are excluded from GKV but can be reimbursed partially or fully by private supplementary plans, depending on the tariff.
Crowns, bridges, dental prostheses
Large restorations like crowns, bridges, and dentures typically incur significant out-of-pocket costs — especially if patients choose aesthetic or durable options.
What public health insurance pays
GKV covers only basic restorations based on the most cost-effective solution. These basic restorations typically include:
- Simple metal crowns (no ceramic)
- Metal bridges (no aesthetic facing)
- Basic removable dentures
Depending on the Bonus Booklet, GKV reimburses 60% to 75% of these standard treatments — the patient must pay the rest.
High-quality restorations
If patients opt for ceramic or gold crowns, ceramic bridges, or implants, they must cover the difference between the public health insurance subsidy and the real treatment cost out of pocket.
Premium supplementary or private plans frequently cover 80–100%. However, scaling limits (the maximum amount the insurance will pay for a specific treatment in the first insurance years) and waiting periods (the time you have to wait before certain dental services become available) may apply.
How much do you pay with and without supplementary insurance?
Without supplementary insurance:
- €1,000–€1,500 for a ceramic crown
- €2,000–€3,000 for a dental implant
- Several hundred euros for a ceramic bridge
With a good supplementary plan (80–100% coverage), the patient’s share often drops to €200–€500, a major relief when planning larger treatments.
Private dental insurance and supplementary dental plans typically reimburse between 60% and 100% of dental costs, depending on the chosen tariff. Basic plans usually cover 60–70% of restorative and preventive care costs. Mid-range plans typically offer 80–90% reimbursements, while premium tariffs can cover up to 100% of expenses for high-quality fillings, crowns, implants, orthodontics, and even cosmetic procedures. However, many plans apply scaling rules, meaning annual reimbursement limits gradually increase during the first few insurance years.
Root canal treatment
GKV only covers root canal treatments if the affected tooth is classified as “worth preserving” — meaning it plays a vital role in maintaining chewing function. If not, treatment must be paid for privately. GKV also only reimburses basic techniques. Supplementary plans may cover modern procedures like microscopic treatments or repeat root canals, which can cost over €1,000 per tooth.
Orthodontic treatment (braces, aligners)
Orthodontics is important in dental care, particularly for children and adolescents. However, GKV coverage is limited and subject to strict criteria. Private and supplemental dental insurance can significantly improve access to modern, aesthetic orthodontic options.
Coverage for children – KIG classification
GKV covers orthodontic treatment for children and adolescents under 18 if the misalignment is classified as medically necessary. The eligibility is determined using the KIG classification system (Kieferorthopädische Indikationsgruppen, orthodontic indication groups):
- KIG levels 1–2 (mild to moderate misalignments): No coverage
- KIG levels 3–5 (severe misalignments): Comprehensive coverage, subject to pre-approval
Initially, parents must pay 20% of the treatment costs upfront, which are reimbursed after the treatment is successfully completed.
What’s excluded in adults
Public health insurance typically does not cover orthodontic treatment for adults.
Exceptions apply only in severe cases, such as major jaw deformities requiring surgical correction.
Otherwise, adults must pay for orthodontic treatments, unless they have a private or supplementary plan that includes orthodontics.
However, many private insurers also work with age limits for orthodontics, although these are usually more generous than in the public system.
Invisalign & “cosmetic” braces – how much is reimbursed?
Modern orthodontic solutions like Invisalign aligners, ceramic braces, or lingual braces are considered cosmetic treatments and are not covered by GKV, even for children.
Some supplementary insurance plans offer partial reimbursement for these treatments, particularly in premium tariffs. Depending on the plan, 60% to 90% of the costs for aesthetic braces can be reimbursed, significantly reducing out-of-pocket expenses.
Cosmetic and elective treatments
GKV does not cover cosmetic dental procedures like tooth whitening/bleaching, ceramic inlays, and Invisalign. However, some premium supplementary plans offer partial reimbursement, typically between 60% and 90%, depending on the treatment and plan level.
Purely aesthetic procedures, such as tooth jewelry, are excluded from coverage in most plans.
Coverage limits and exclusions
Dental insurance plans — especially supplementary ones — often have financial limits and exclusions. These can significantly impact your reimbursement:
- Dental scales: Reimbursement limits “scale up” over several years before reaching the comprehensive dental cover of the selected tariff.
- Lifetime caps: Some plans limit lifetime reimbursement for costly treatments like implants or orthodontics.
- Pre-existing conditions: Teeth already damaged or scheduled for treatment at contract start may be excluded. If there are too many missing teeth, acceptance of this person for insurance may be in question.
- Elective treatments: Procedures considered “not medically necessary” — such as cosmetic upgrades or aesthetic orthodontics — are typically not reimbursed unless explicitly included in the policy.
Finding the Best Dental Insurance in Germany
Before you take out a dental insurance policy, review the following aspects carefully:
- Coverage by treatment type: Make sure the plan covers the services you expect to need — from fillings to orthodontics or implants. The policy should offer good value for money. Basic plans with good coverage are available from as little as €10 per month.
- “Up to 100%” doesn’t always mean 100%: Some plans only cover a percentage of the remaining cost after GKV reimbursement.
- Waiting periods: Check when coverage begins for major treatments — it is regularly 3 months for basic treatments, 8 months for major restorative measures (dentures), 12+ months for orthodontics.
- Service and transparency: For expats, look for clear contract language and customer support in English.
Modern Digital Providers — Optimal for Expats
Digital insurers such as ottonova, Feather, and Getsafe are ideal for expats in Germany. Unlike many traditional insurance companies, they offer high-performance private insurance plans, bilingual support, and comprehensive digital services. With these providers, you can manage all your insurance online. You can also open your insurance account digitally in just a few minutes.
Conclusion: Know your coverage, avoid additional costs
Dental insurance coverage in Germany can vary widely — depending on whether you rely on statutory health insurance (GKV), opt for a supplementary plan, or are fully privately insured.
GKV covers basic dental treatments, while private supplemental dental insurance helps bridge the cost gap between standard care and modern treatment options. Private full insurance, as part of private comprehensive health insurance, generally offers a broad range of dental benefits, but at higher costs and with eligibility requirements.
To avoid unexpected expenses, it’s essential to understand exactly what your private dental insurance plan covers—and what it doesn’t. Premium supplementary plans can offer value and financial peace of mind for those with higher dental care needs or expectations for quality and aesthetics.
Frequently Asked Questions — FAQ
Yes. Expats who plan to stay in Germany only for a limited period — typically up to 5 years — can choose special expat health insurance plans that include basic dental coverage. These plans are often bundled with travel health insurance and are designed for temporary residents such as international students, researchers, or digital nomads.
However, most of these policies only cover emergency treatments or pain relief — not complex procedures or preventive care. An expat health insurance plan with extended dental coverage is recommended to receive comprehensive dental treatment during your stay. The strongest offer currently available comes from ottonova, a digital insurance company specializing in expats’ needs and includes full dental coverage as part of its expat health insurance plan.
A supplemental dental policy is only necessary if you are covered by public health insurance in Germany.
Yes — as long as your plan includes coverage for treatment by non-contracted dentists (private dentists without GKV accreditation), your supplementary insurance will typically reimburse the costs. However, you won’t receive GKV subsidies for standard treatments in a private practice, so your share of the costs may be higher. Always check your tariff conditions to see whether treatments by a private dentist are fully or partially covered.
Private supplementary insurance does not cover treatments considered purely aesthetic or optional — unless they are explicitly included in your tariff. This typically refers to tooth jewelry, non-medically necessary veneers, gold fillings for visible teeth, or cosmetic orthodontics without functional need. If you choose these dental services, you’ll typically have to cover the full charge yourself.
In addition, treatments already planned or started before the insurance began, and pre-existing conditions not declared may be excluded, depending on the policy.
Yes. If you are coming from a country that requires a visa for Germany, you must have valid health insurance at the time of your visa application. This can initially be a travel health insurance policy that includes emergency and pain-relief dental coverage. You will need a German health insurance plan for longer stays — either statutory (GKV) or private (PKV). If you are covered by statutory insurance, we recommend taking out additional dental insurance to reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Most dental procedures take place in outpatient dental practices. However, if surgery or treatment in a hospital is necessary, GKV will also cover it. Some comprehensive private health insurance plans also cover treatment in private hospital rooms.