Key takeaways

• Health insurance providers cover the cost of medically necessary dental treatments only.
• Public health insurance doesn’t cover the costs of dental treatments that are not considered standard care.
• Supplementary dental insurance has a 4 to 5-year reimbursement limit period. During this period, dental insurance companies limit the amount they’ll cover.

This is how you do it

• Before starting treatment, get a dental treatment cost estimate from your dentist. Then, check with your health insurance company to see what costs they’ll cover.
• We recommend getting dental insurance if you smoke, have dental problems, or are 35 and above.
• We found Deutsche Familienversicherung AG*, Getsafe*, and Feather* among the best dental insurance providers in Germany as of 2024.
• We have removed Ottonova* from our recommendations due to its falling customer rating. You can read the reviews on Trustpilot.

Table of Contents

Does health insurance cover dental treatment costs in Germany?

Yes, public and private health insurance covers the cost of medically necessary dental treatments. However, medically necessary treatment is usually not enough or desired.

The dental costs you pay yourself quickly add up to hundreds or thousands of euros. Thus, it’s recommended that you get a supplemental dental insurance policy sooner rather than later. 

Here is a summary of typical dental treatment costs and how much health insurance covers.

Dental Treatment	Cost
Professional cleaning	80 € and 120 € per professional cleaning. Public health insurance companies like TK cover 40 € per annum for professional cleaning.
Tooth extraction	Public health insurance covers the complete cost of tooth extraction. However, you pay around 200 € to 300 € for treatments under general anesthesia and 100 € to 200 € for treatments under nitrous oxide.
Tooth filling	Public health insurance covers amalgam and plastic tooth filling, but you pay for the ceramic tooth filling. Ceramic tooth filling costs around 550 € per tooth.
Root canal	Root canal treatment costs between 200 € and 1000 € per tooth. The public insurer covers the cost only if the tooth can be saved. However, you must still pay part of the costs out of your own pocket.
Dental implant	Public health insurance doesn’t cover the costs of dental implants. A dental implant costs between 1400 € and 2200 € per tooth.

Is it worth getting supplementary dental insurance in Germany?

Yes, getting supplementary dental insurance is worth it in Germany for the following reasons.

• Dental insurance plans come with a 4 to 5-year reimbursement limit period. During this period, the dental insurance company reimburses up to a fixed maximum amount, and you cover the rest.
• Statistically, people who are 35 or above are prone to some kind of dental health problems.
• Dental insurance companies don’t cover existing dental problems. So, get a dental insurance policy before you catch one.
• Dental insurance premiums increase with age.
• Public or private health insurance companies don’t offer comprehensive dental coverage.
• Dental treatment costs can quickly add up to hundreds or thousands of euros. 

In short, we recommend that people who smoke or are 35 and above get a supplementary dental insurance plan.

We found Deutsche Familienversicherung AG*, Feather*, Getsafe*, Allianz, and Barmenia among the best dental insurance providers in Germany as of 2024.

Tooth Filling in Germany

The cost of tooth filling in Germany depends on the following factors

• The material used for the tooth filling.
• Which tooth has the problem?
• How complex is the dental treatment?
• The costs also vary from dentist to dentist. Hence, we recommend you get a second opinion before signing up for expensive dental services. 

Your health insurance covers the cost of tooth fillings using certain materials only. If you opt for better and more expensive materials, you must bear the cost—unless you have supplementary dental insurance.

Let’s check how much each type of filling costs in Germany.

#1 Ceramic tooth filling

Cost:

• Total cost: up to 550 € per tooth.
• Contribution by public health insurance: up to 50 € per tooth
• Cost you bear: up to 500 € per tooth

Advantages

• Ceramic filling can last for up to 15 years
• Ceramic filling is recommended to patients because of its fewer side effects.
• It’s more aesthetic than Amalgam and gold fillings.

Disadvantages

• At least two dentist visits are required for ceramic filling.
• It’s more expensive than other types of tooth fillings available in Germany.
• Your health insurance doesn’t cover the cost of ceramic filling. The health insurance company will reimburse part of the dental treatment costs. 

#2 Amalgam tooth filling

Cost:

• Total cost: 20 € to 50 € per tooth.
• Covered by public health insurance.

Advantages

• It’s cheap, and your health insurance company covers the costs
• It’s one of the longest-lasting tooth fillings available today. It can last up to 15 years.

Disadvantages

• Amalgam fillings are made of a mixture of metals, and they have a dark metallic look. So, they’re not very aesthetic, as people can see the filling when you smile or open your mouth.
• Some people are concerned about the presence of mercury (a highly toxic metal) in amalgam fillings. However, according to the ADA (American Dental Association), amalgam fillings are safe.

#3 Composite Tooth Fillings

Cost

• Total cost: 30 € to 80 € per tooth
• Public health insurance covers the cost of dental treatment for certain conditions.So, before accepting the treatment, you must confirm what costs your insurer covers.

Advantages

• Composite fillings are more aesthetic as they match the color of your teeth.
• Composite fillings are easy to use and can restore many tooth shapes and sizes. Hence, they are favored for filling cavities and repairing damaged teeth.
• It’s quick and easy to fill the teeth with composite fillings. Hence, it’s a more convenient option for patients.

Disadvantages

• Composite fillings must be replaced more often than amalgam and ceramic fillings.
• They are not as strong and durable as amalgam fillings. Hence, dentists don’t recommend using it in high-stress areas, such as the molars.

Root Canal in Germany

Root canal treatment is usually expensive as it takes several sessions to do it. A typical root canal looks like this.

• First, the dentist opens a path to your infected pulp and removes it completely.
• The dentist then disinfects the cleaned root canals and seals them with root-filling material. This prevents bacteria from penetrating the tooth again.
• Lastly, a crown is placed on the tooth to strengthen it further.

How much does a root canal cost in Germany?

The cost of the root canal depends on

• how badly the tooth is infected,
• the filling used to seal the root canals,
• and the type of crown used.

On average, root canal treatment costs vary between 200 € and 1,000 €.

Does public health insurance cover root canal costs in Germany?

Yes, public health insurance covers the cost of a root canal if the dentist confirms that the tooth can be saved. 

Special conditions apply to molars’ root canal treatment. The public insurer covers the cost if you meet one of the following conditions:

• The molar is in a complete row of teeth without a gap.
• The treatment saves the last molar.
• The treatment preserves the existing dentures.

These are general guidelines. However, public insurance companies also cover the costs if there are other reasons for saving the tooth. 

So, ask your dentist for a cost estimate. And check with your statutory health insurance provider about what costs they’ll cover.

NOTE: If the dentist determines that it’s not worth saving the tooth, the health insurance company will not pay for the root canal. You can still opt for a root canal. But you must cover the costs yourself.

You may have to pay part of the cost of the root canal treatment even when the statutory health insurance company covers the cost. This is because public insurance providers cover the cost of standard treatment only.

However, the dentist might need to use additional services to achieve the best results. And you’ll bear the cost of those additional services.

Dental Implants in Germany

How much does a dental implant cost in Germany?

The dental implant cost depends on the following factors.

• Number of implants.
• Material of the implants (Titanium or Ceramic).
• Amount of work required for the dental implant.
• Dentist’s fee.
• Preparation costs (eg, treating periodontitis, strengthening jaw bone, etc., before the implant)

A typical dental implant costs between €1,400 and €2,200 per tooth.

Does public health insurance cover dental implants in Germany?

Public health insurance doesn’t consider dental implants a standard treatment. Hence, it doesn’t cover the dental implants’ costs. Instead, the insurer pays a fixed subsidy. 

The health insurance provider calculates the fixed subsidy based on the cost of alternative dental care available.

For example, Suppose you have a missing tooth. The following dental treatments are available: bridge, dental prosthesis, and implant. You decide to go with an implant.

In this case, your health insurance company will provide a fixed subsidy, i.e., half the cost of a bridge or prosthesis. And you have to pay the rest of the treatment costs.

In exceptional cases where other treatments are not possible, the statutory health insurance company may cover the costs. So, you should always contact the health insurance company before the treatment and check what costs they cover. 

How much does a professional dental cleaning cost in Germany?

Professional teeth cleaning costs between 80 € and 120 € (as of 2024) in Germany. Dentists recommend getting professional teeth cleaning every six months. 

So you’ll spend around 160 € to 240 € per annum on professional dental cleaning. However, public health insurance companies like TK reimburse 40 € per annum for professional teeth cleaning.

How much private health insurance will reimburse depends on your tariff. Usually, private health insurance offers better coverage than public insurers. So, you can expect them to reimburse more than 40 €.

The supplementary dental insurance we recommended, Deutsche Familienversicherung AG*, and Getsafe*, covers up to 200 € per annum of professional cleaning. Feather* dental insurance covers the complete professional cleaning costs.

What is the cost of tooth extraction in Germany?

The cost of tooth extraction depends on the following factors. 

• Which imaging procedure (x-ray, CT scan, etc.) is used to prepare for the tooth extraction? 
• Dentists usually recommend professional teeth cleaning before the procedure. So, add it’s costs.
• The type of anesthesia – local anesthesia, general anesthesia, or nitrous oxide (laughing gas).
• Do you need an implant or dentures after the tooth removal?

Public health insurance covers the complete cost of tooth extraction under local anesthesia.

However, you must pay out of your pocket if you desire treatment under different types of anesthesia. Assuming that the treatment under different anesthesia is not medically required.

Here is how much the treatment costs. 

• Treatment cost under general anesthesia increases by 200€ to 300€ per hour. If the treatment lasts longer, the amount increases by €100 to €150 per hour.
• Treatment cost for nitrous oxide increases by 100 € to 200 € per hour.

Suppose you need an implant. The public insurer doesn’t cover implant costs. You receive a fixed subsidy from the health insurance company and pay the rest from your pocket.

Supplementary dental insurance in Germany

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, health insurance companies don’t cover all the dental costs. That is why it’s recommended that you get additional private insurance to cover expensive dental treatments.

Good dental insurance plans cover up to 100% of treatment costs. Moreover, coverage is not limited to standard care but also includes the cost of high-quality materials and the latest technologies. 

We found Deutsche Familienversicherung AG*, Feather*, Getsafe*, Allianz, and Barmenia among the best dental insurance providers in Germany as of 2024.

References

• https://www.tk.de/techniker/leistungen-und-mitgliedschaft/informationen-versicherte/leistungen/zaehne/zahnbehandlungen/kosten-zahnfuellungen-2002386
• https://drdavey.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-different-types-of-dental-fillings
• https://www.da-direkt.de/zahnzusatzversicherung/ratgeber/wurzelbehandlung-kosten
• https://www.tk.de/techniker/leistungen-und-mitgliedschaft/informationen-versicherte/leistungen/zaehne/zahnbehandlungen/uebernimmt-tk-kosten-fuer-wurzelbehandlung-2002388
• https://www.dentolo.de/ratgeber/zahnimplantat-kosten/
• https://www.muenchener-verein.de/ratgeber/zahngesundheit/zahnextraktion-zahnziehen-kosten-schmerzen-risiken/