Best Dental insurances in Germany [2024 List] - Navigate Germany

Germany is good in terms of the highly-qualified dentists and its population makes its dental care system one of the best in Europe but expensive too. General health insurance does not cover all dental treatments so read this article to know about the dental insurance in Germany.

Dental Care in Germany

Dental health care is semi-privatized in Germany. If you have a valid health insurance, you can get free dental care depending on the required type of treatment you need. Basic treatments are free of cost and paid treatments depend on the type of health insurance you have. 

Summary of the Best Dental Insurance Providers

There are three best dental insurance providers in Germany;

Ottonova - 100% digital and customer friendly.
- Services in English. 
- 3 different plans. 
- Waiting period of 3 months. 
- Superfast repayment. 
- Appointment booking service.
- English-speaking doctor
- 8.80 Euros per month.

Feather - 100% digital and customer friendly.
- Services in English
- Two different plans. 
- No waiting period.
- Any time cancellation.
- 10.9 Euros per month.

Getsafe - 100% digital and customer friendly. 
- Services in English. 
- One plan. 
- Waiting period of 3 months. 
- Repayment within 48 hours. 
- 9.31 Euros per month.

Why Do You Need Dental Insurance?

Dental insurance is important to save yourself from expensive future treatments due to genetic dental issues you got from your parents or grandparents. If you need an advanced dental treatment, dental insurance will benefit you a lot. 

Cost of Dental Treatments

The approximate cost of dental treatment in Germany is;

• Professional teeth cleaning: 50 to 120 Euros
• Root canal treatment: 300 to 1000 Euros
• Plastic or composite fillings: 60 to 200 Euros
• Gold or inlay: 400 to 800 Euros
• Ceramic fillings: 400 to 900 Euros
• Ceramic bridge: 1.300 to 2.200 Euros
• Implant with ceramic crown: 2.500 to 3.500 Euros
• Dental cleaning: 85 Euros
• Root canal treatment: 1300 Euros
• Composite filling: 150 Euros
• All ceramic crown:1000 Euros
• Gold inlay: 700 Euros
• Implant: 2700 Euros

Public health insurance such as TK or AOK covers only 30 to 60 percent of the cost of dental treatment and the rest is covered either from your own pocket or with the additional dental insurance. But if you have private insurance, it will cover the entire cost of dental treatment. 

Dental Treatment Upfront

While having a dental treatment, you will pay for it to get the invoice (Rechnung) which will be submitted to your supplemental dental insurance. Reimbursement of the money will be based on your tariff that will either cover 100% or some part of it.

Dental Care Coverage by Public Health Insurance

Everyone has public health insurance in Germany that covers dental treatment but it does not cover the full cost due to the reduced dental coverage to minimize the cost. The treatments covered in public health insurance include regular dental check-ups, hygiene work, basic fillings, wisdom teeth removal, and scaling. The public health insurance covers 75% of costs if you regularly visit your dentist for 10 years.

Supplemental Dental Insurance

It is good to buy supplemental dental insurance with public health insurance to avoid the costs of specific dental treatments such as dental implants, crowns, root canal treatments, or professional dental cleaning. 

The cost of advanced dental treatments is very high starting from several hundred Euros to thousands of Euros and public health insurance doesn’t cover it, so having supplemental dental insurance (Zahnzusatzversicherung) is always supportive.

Supplemental Dental Insurance Coverage

Almost all private dental insurances covers the following treatments:

• Dental check-ups
• Dental prosthesis
• Hygiene work
• Professional dental cleaning
• Implants
• Dental treatment
• Inlays
• Bridges
• Dentures
• Crowns

If you have supplemental dental insurance, you do not have to wait for an appointment to consult a dental specialist. You might get 100% repayment for professional and major dental treatments.

Supplemental Dental Insurance with Private Health Insurance

You do not need to buy supplemental dental insurance with your private health insurance as it covers a lot of dental treatments. If you need 100% coverage, ask your private insurance provider.

Who Needs Supplemental Dental Insurance In Germany?

Everyone should have supplemental dental insurance with public health insurance if you face the following situations.

Dental Issues Genetically: If you expect to have dental issues from your parents or grandparents, supplemental dental insurance will save a lot. 

Care and Treatment: Basic treatments are always covered in public health insurance but supplemental dental insurance is good for better care and treatment. With supplemental dental insurance, you can go for a dental implant rather than a bridge.

Bad Habits: If you are not good at taking care of your dental hygiene, smoking, or chewing tobacco, it is recommended to have supplemental dental insurance. 

Toothache: If you are expecting tooth implants or replacement in future due to current minor toothaches, have supplemental dental insurance to save thousands of Euros. 

Past History: If you had major dental treatment in the past, and expect the same in the future,  it is good to have supplemental dental insurance in Germany. 

Supplemental Dental Insurance Coverage

The coverage depends on the insurance company you choose, so read the contract carefully and understand what is included or excluded before buying the insurance. Usually, supplemental dental insurance offer comprehensive coverage but your contract must include:

• Professional dental cleaning
• Root canal treatments
• Major dental treatments
• Tooth whitening

Discounts at Younger age

Get insurance when you are young to pay less compared to the person who gets insurance at a later age.

Costs of Supplemental Dental Insurance

Supplemental dental insurance is very affordable and easy to get. Some insurance providers offer their plans for just 10 Euros per month with good coverage.

Best Dental Insurance Providers

Following are the best supplemental dental insurance providers in Germany.

Ottonova

Ottonova is the best dental insurance for international people in Germany providing 100% digital services, comprehensive coverage, and English support at very economical rates.

Features

• 100% digital.
• No waiting time for accidents or preventive treatments.
• 8.80 Euros per month.
• Book an appointment.
• Extremely fast reimbursement.
• Cancelable any time after 2 years.
• English website, customer services, contract, and app.

Coverage

Coverage include;

• 100% cost of dental prostheses (if the partial cost is covered by your public health insurance) 
• 100% costs of dental treatments (root canals, plastic fillings, fillings, checkups, and periodontal)
• 60-100% cost of orthodontics is covered. 
• 100% cost of orthodontics (for patients under 21 years old)
• 80-100% cost of implants (bridges, crowns, and dentures)
• 1 or 2 professional dental cleanings every year.

Reimbursement Limits

Yearly limit is for the first 48 months on the maximum reimbursement amount which starts at 800 Euros and increases by 800 Euros every year. This does not apply to professional cleaning, regular dental treatments, and emergency treatments due to accidents but applies to implants, inlays, and Onlays. Monthly premium depends on your age. There are three plans with a waiting period of three months, but you do not have to wait for preventive treatments. You can shift from one plan to another at any time according to your needs.

Plans

Economy Class

It covers: - 8.80 to 9.30 Euros per month
- Professional cleaning up to 70 Euros a year.
- 100% dental treatments (periodontal, plastic fillings, and root canal)
- 70% treatment cost (inlays and implants)
- 100% dental prosthesis (if public health insurance partially covers)
- 70% cost of functional therapeutic and functional analytical services.

Business Class

It includes Economy Class plus: - 9.81 to 11.27 Euros per month
- 85-100% of orthodontics cost for children.
- 85% cost of functional therapeutic and functional analytical services.
- Up to 70 Euros per professional cleanings (2 times).

First Class

Includes Business Class plus: - 15.42 to 15.86 Euros per month
- 100% orthodontics for children.
- 100% or up to 2,000 Euros for Orthodontics for adults (if your public health insurance partially covers)
- Additional anesthesia services.
- 100% cost of functional therapeutic and functional analytical services.
- Two professional cleanings (90 Euros each)

Pros

✅ Immediate protection (no waiting time)
✅ Quick reimbursement
✅ High quality dentures
✅ Fast and reliable service for professional tooth cleaning

Cons

⛔️ Covers orthodontic treatments for adults only if the GKV (Public Health Insurance) covers the costs.

Getsafe

GetSafe is a well known insurance provider helping expats in for their dental issues by providing coverage for dental treatments at a low price. Mobile application is available to manage everything online and get a discount of 10 Euros if you sign up for the GetSafe app by using this link

Features

• Reimbursement within 48 hours. 
• 9.31 Euros per month
• Customer service, contract, App, and website in English
• Cancellable after 2 years
• No wait required for treatments (fissure sealing, caries diagnosis, accident treatment, and professional cleaning)

Coverage

• 100% coverage for periodontal treatment, fillings, and root canals.
• 100% reimbursement.
• Dental cleaning up to 80 Euros per year
  Annual reimbursement limit is up to 800 Euros in the first 12 months which does not apply for treatments due to accidents. Reimbursement limit increases by 800 Euros every year till 48 months and then it will be unlimited. They offer only one plan and the monthly premium depends on your age which increases after 5 years.

Pros

✅ Up to 100% reimbursement
✅ Payments within 48 hours

Cons

⛔️ Less options ⛔️ Only one plan

Feather

Feather is an insurance company that provides full digital services and support in English

Features

• No waiting time.
• Services in English.
• Cancellable any time after one year.
• Basic plan = 10.9 Euros per month
• Advanced plan = 16 Euros per month

Coverage

• 90 to 100% reimbursement for tooth replacement.
• Teeth whitening every 2 years (up to 200 Euros)
• 100% reimbursement for treatments (root canal, professional cleaning, composite fillings, certain orthodontic treatments, mouthguards against teeth grinding, and periodontal treatments)

Plans

Feather offers basic and advanced plans to fulfill Customer’s needs.

Basic Plan

• Annual reimbursement limit of 150 Euros in the first year.
• Annual reimbursement limit of 300 Euros in the second year.
• No limit for third year (orthodontics is excluded)

Advanced Plan

• Treatments include inlays, onlays, dentures, teeth whitening, bridges, implants, tooth replacement, and crowns.
• No reimbursement limit for the treatments except orthodontics.
• Annual reimbursement limit for tooth replacement in the first 4 years

Pros

✅ Professional dental cleaning
✅ Preventative treatments
✅ High quality fillings
✅ Restorative treatments
✅ No waiting period

Cons

⛔️ No coverage for pre-existing or ongoing treatments
⛔️ Cost of orthodontic treatments if you’re above 21

Dental Insurance For People With Low Income

“Härtefallregelung” is for those who cannot afford supplemental dental insurance in which 100% cost is covered by your insurance, if you earn less than 1,358 Euros (gross) per month according to 2023. This amount goes up to 1,867.25 Euros with one dependent and with each additional dependents 339.50 Euros are added. To apply for Härtefallregelung, send a formal application to your insurance provider.

Final Thoughts

It is always beneficial to get additional private dental insurance to increase your coverage. Public health insurance is not enough for some treatments and the premium also depends on your age. At age 32, you would pay 28,44 Euros per month with Ottonova, 25,80 Euros with Feather, and 12,58 Euros with Getsafe. Choose an insurance provider and go with the plan that best covers your needs.