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

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. However, dental insurance plans that cover 100% of dental costs 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 Deutsche Familienversicherung AG*, Barmenia*, Feather*, and HUK24 to be among the best dental insurance providers in Germany as of June 2024. We removed Ottonova* from our recommendations due to poor customer reviews.
• Feather is an insurance agent and sells Barmenia’s dental insurance policies.

Table of Contents

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

Moreover, your health insurance company doesn’t cover the entire cost of dental treatment. Hence, getting additional dental insurance makes sense in most cases.

However, young people without dental problems don’t really need dental insurance. This guide will teach you what a good dental insurance policy covers and when it’s worth taking.

Best Dental Insurance Plans in Germany – Quick Overview

We found Deutsche Familienversicherung AG* (DFV), Barmenia*, Feather*, and HUK24 among the best dental insurance providers in Germany as of 2024.

NOTE: Feather is an insurance agent and sells Barmenia’s dental insurance policies. The benefit of taking insurance from Feather is that you can file claims and get customer support in English.

Barmenia Dental Insurance

• No limit on professional cleaning and dental treatments (root canal, fillings, etc.)
• The basic plan starts at 16.35€, and the advanced starts at 21.25€ per month.
• Reimbursem*nts are limited to the maximum GOZ and GÖA factor.
• No waiting period

Barmenia*

Deutsche Familienversicherung Dental Insurance

• Up to 100% reimbursem*nt for dentures and dental implants, orthodontics, professional cleaning (up to €200)
• The base plan starts at 10€, and the premium starts at 20€ per month.
• Reimbursem*nts are limited to the maximum GOZ and GÖA factor.
• No waiting period

Deutsche Familienversicherung AG*

Feather Dental Insurance

• No limit on professional cleaning and dental treatments (root canal, fillings, etc.)
• The basic plan starts at 10.90€, and the advanced starts at 22.35€ per month.
• Reimbursem*nts are limited to the maximum GOZ and GÖA factor.
• No waiting period

Feather*

NOTE: Feather is an insurance agent and sells Barmenia’s dental insurance policies. The benefit of taking insurance from Feather is that you can file claims and get customer support in English.

Table comparing tariffs from different dental insurance providers in Germany

• *100% reimbursem*nt doesn’t mean the insurance company will pay any invoice created by the dentist. Check the “reimbursem*nt limit” row in the above table.
• -Feather is an insurance agent and sells Barmenia’s dental insurance plans. So the services are the same as those of Barmenia.

TIP: You should get a cost estimate from your dentist before starting the treatment. Submit it to your dental insurance provider to check what costs they cover.

Our guide on comparing and testing the best dental insurance plans explains how we found the best plans.

Things to be aware of before taking dental insurance in Germany

Calendar year vs insurance year

To calculate the reimbursem*nt limit periods, insurers use either calendar or insurance year. The difference between the two is that the insurance year starts when you conclude the contract.

However, the calendar year starts in January. This means if you took a policy in Dec 2023, in Jan 2024, your first calendar year is finished.

On the other hand, if you took a policy in Dec 2023, your first insurance year will end on Dec 2024.

Reimbursem*nt for dental treatments not covered by public health insurance.

Each dental insurance company pays for the dental treatments not covered by public health insurance differently. For example, Barmenia deducts 20% of the dental costs and reimburses the rest. However, DFV deducts 30% of the dental costs and reimburses the rest.

Existing dental problems

If you have existing dental problems, you should get advice from an insurance broker before taking dental insurance. However, almost every dental insurance provider doesn’t cover existing dental problems.

GOZ guarantee

The medical industry is advancing continuously. So, there will be treatments that are not known today. GOZ guarantee ensures that treatments available in the future are also insured.

Things we found out based on customers’ reviews.

• More than 90% of the rejected claims belong to customers with existing dental problems.
• If possible, don’t change your dentist often. Doing so will make it difficult for you to provide a dental history to your insurer. Insurance companies need your dental history to process claims above 500 €.
• Dental insurance companies reimburse small bills like professional cleaning within a day or two. However, they need around 3 to 8 weeks to reject or accept a big claim.
• Customers often complain that they didn’t get the whole invoice reimbursed even if the insurer’s website advertises 100% coverage. However, insurance providers set limits on the maximum reimbursem*nt amount. If your treatment cost is under that limit, you’ll get a 100% reimbursem*nt. Otherwise, the reimbursem*nt is limited to the maximum amount the insurer sets.

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

Read our guide on dental costs in Germany to learn more.

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, dental treatment costs are 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: pay a higher insurance premium or pay a difference in dental costs.
• A good supplemental dental insurance tariff pays for high-quality materials like plastic, ceramic, gold, or titanium.
• 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)

• Preventive dental care coverage is not a must in supplemental dental insurance.
• The most common preventive dental care is professional dental cleaning, which costs between 100 € and 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 found Deutsche Familienversicherung AG* (DFV), Barmenia*, Feather*, and HUK24 among the best dental insurance providers in Germany as of 2024.

NOTE: Feather is an insurance agent and sells Barmenia’s dental insurance policies. The benefit of taking insurance from Feather is that you can file claims and get customer support in English.

Barmenia Dental Insurance

• No limit on professional cleaning and dental treatments (root canal, fillings, etc.)
• The basic plan starts at 16.35€, and the advanced starts at 21.25€ per month.
• Reimbursem*nts are limited to the maximum GOZ and GÖA factor.
• No waiting period

Barmenia*

Deutsche Familienversicherung Dental Insurance

• Up to 100% reimbursem*nt for dentures and dental implants, orthodontics, professional cleaning (up to €200)
• The base plan starts at 10€, and the premium starts at 20€ per month.
• Reimbursem*nts are limited to the maximum GOZ and GÖA factor.
• No waiting period

Deutsche Familienversicherung AG*

Feather Dental Insurance

• No limit on professional cleaning and dental treatments (root canal, fillings, etc.)
• The basic plan starts at 10.90€, and the advanced starts at 22.35€ per month.
• Reimbursem*nts are limited to the maximum GOZ and GÖA factor.
• No waiting period

Feather*

NOTE: Feather is an insurance agent and sells Barmenia’s dental insurance policies. The benefit of taking insurance from Feather is that you can file claims and get customer support in English.

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 has already advised you to take 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.

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 35 to consider getting a supplemental dental insurance policy.

You should also consider the reimbursem*nt limit in the policy’s first 4 to 5 years. So, if you take dental insurance at age 35, you’ll have no limits at age 40.

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 that smokers over 35 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 45 years of age. The reason is simple: the probability of developing a dental problem is very high once you reach 45, and there is a reimbursem*nt limit period of 4 to 5 years.

Dental treatment cost

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

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

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.

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.

You can read our guide on how to save on dental treatment costs to learn more.

FAQs on dental insurance in 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 require a waiting period of 8 months when you sign up. During this 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. After the first 4 to 5 years, there is no reimbursem*nt limit for 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, have 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 found Deutsche Familienversicherung AG* (DFV), Barmenia*, Feather*, and HUK24 among the best dental insurance providers in Germany as of 2024.

NOTE: Feather is an insurance agent and sells Barmenia’s dental insurance policies. The benefit of taking insurance from Feather is that you can file claims and get customer support in English.

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.allianz.de/gesundheit/private-krankenversicherung/zahn/
• https://www.transparent-beraten.de/private-krankenversicherung/zahnbehandlungen/
• https://www.cdc.gov/oral-health/data-research/facts-stats/fast-facts-cavities.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/oral-health/data-research/facts-stats/fast-facts-cavities.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/