Dentistry in Germany

Fortunately for expats moving to Germany, the country boasts a high-quality healthcare system, which includes dentistry. In fact, it ranked in 20th place out of 89 countries in the CEOWORLD Magazine Health Care Index (2021).

Germany has a dual healthcare system that includes both public and private healthcare providers, and the type of health insurance you have will determine which services you can access. For example, state health insurance only covers routine dental care but not extensive treatments or private dentists, which can be expensive. As a result, many residents also choose to purchase private health insurance to cover these costs.

To help you navigate the dental care system in Germany, this article provides the following information:

Feather

Protect your smile with Feather dental insurance. Feather is an expat-friendly digital insurance partner in Germany, offering simple online sign up. Feather’s website, consultations, contracts, and claims are all in English, and their team is available for free advice. So whether you’re looking for health, liability, legal, or life insurance, visit Feather online today.

Go to website

The healthcare system in Germany

The dual public-private structure of the German healthcare system is the oldest in Europe and dates back to the 1880s. It offers high-quality services, expert clinicians, and excellent patient care. However, residents must have public health insurance to access services.

Fortunately, anyone living and working in Germany can sign up for public health insurance, which is known as Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung (GKV). As you will have a choice of providers, it is a good idea to compare the schemes before deciding. Signing up for public health insurance involves a few steps:

• Register at the local municipality (Einwohnermeldeamt) to get a social security number (Sozialversicherungsnummer)
• Pay national insurance contributions
• Join one of many state insurance funds (Krankenkassen)

Once you have arranged public health insurance, you, your partner, and your children can access the public healthcare system. The state also provides public health insurance for students (academic or vocational), pensioners, and unemployed residents. However, many people choose to supplement this with private health insurance (Private Krankenversicherung or PKV) to cover the extra costs, such as extensive dental treatments.

Notably, citizens from the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland can access state healthcare by using their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The EEA countries include Lichtenstein, Iceland, and Norway.

Dentistry in Germany

Germany has a high standard of dental care, and the country ranked second in the 2020 Healthiest Teeth Index. A dental industry survey from 2019 also shows that 80% of Germans attend regular dental checkups and deem oral health essential. Another study from 2018 also showed that 41% of German residents visited their dentists twice that year, and 8% even went three times.

Healthcare

The German healthcare system

Read more

In 2019, there were 98,604 registered dentists in Germany, of whom 72,589 were actively practicing. To practice, dentists must be accredited by the National Dental Association of Statutory Health Insurance (Kassenzahnärztliche Bundesvereinigung – KZBV) and meet strict criteria.

Dentists work in either private practices, communal dental clinics, or emergency dental services. Many are also specialists, such as pediatric dentists or orthodontists.

Interestingly, 25 September is the Day of Dental Health (Tag der Zahngesundheit). This is a public awareness campaign to promote oral health and educate the population about dentistry in Germany.

Accessing dental care in Germany

Residents who have a social security number, pay national contributions, and are registered with a public health insurance fund can access public health services, including state dentistry in Germany.

However, it is important to be aware that while most German dentists accept public and private insurance, some independent practitioners only enroll private patients. In fact, around 400 independent dental practices treat only privately insured patients in the country.

Healthcare

Health insurance in Germany

Read more

Once you have chosen a dentist, you need to register with their clinic. You will need to complete an application and submit copies of the following:

• Identity documents (passport or resident card)
• Proof of health insurance
• Social security number
• Dental records

Public dental care in Germany

As mentioned, public health insurance covers primary dental care in Germany, such as bi-annual checkups, basic fillings, and wisdom teeth extraction. It also includes many pediatric treatments, which you can read more about further down this article.

Even though public health insurance covers routine dental care, you will still need to pay for treatments, such as:

• Biannual cleaning: from €80
• Crowns: from €150
• Bridges: from €340
• Adult braces: €1,800–2,500
• Root canals: €200–1,000
• Teeth bleaching: €30–70 per tooth

Because state health insurance doesn’t cover all dental procedures, many residents choose to purchase supplementary private health insurance.

Private dental care in Germany

In addition to providing routine dental services, independent practices in Germany also offer cosmetic treatments and specialized orthodontic and periodontic procedures. Fortunately, private health insurance covers nearly all dentistry costs, such as:

• Dentist consultation: €150–300
• Dental implants: from €1,800
• Professional teeth cleaning: from €55
• Teeth bleaching: from €300 per session
• Veneers and inlays: €1,200–1,500
• Bridges: €700–1,600
• Ceramic crowns: from €600
• Composite fillings: from €200
• Tooth re-alignment/braces:
  • Metal: from €2,500
  • Invisible: from €3,500
• Root canals: €450–1,200

Naturally, many people feel nervous about visiting the dentist. However, some experience severe anxiety or even dental phobia. As a result, private dentists might offer sedation or other relaxation techniques not always available in public dental clinics. Furthermore, independent dental services may include alternative practices such as aromatherapy treatments or ozone therapy.

You can usually pay for your dental treatment after your appointment or once the clinic sends you the bill. Notably, claim procedures may differ between insurance providers. They will either reimburse you or pay the clinic directly upon receipt of the invoice.

Dental insurance in Germany

Out-of-pocket dental costs can add up quickly, especially if you need extensive dental procedures, and this is where supplementary health insurance can be helpful. If you are publicly insured, you can purchase supplemental dental insurance through providers such as DA Direkt and Envivas. Some of these providers are associated with specific public health insurance schemes. For instance, Envivas is only for patients with Techniker Krankenkasse insurance.

Fortunately, most private health insurance providers in Germany also offer supplementary dental insurance. Some of the leading health insurance companies in the country include:

• Allianz Care
• AXA
• Cigna Global
• Feather

Of course, private health insurance premiums will depend on your age, cover you need, and whether you include your family in your policy. Therefore, estimated monthly premiums can range from anywhere up to €100. You can compare quotes on Check24 or our own dedicated health insurance quotes page.

Finding a dentist in Germany

Thankfully, you can freely choose your dentist in Germany and easily change to another one if you are unhappy with their service. Some practices might not accept new clients if they are oversubscribed.

To find a dentist in your area, you can use the federal and regional dental directories, KZBV Zahnarztsuche and Bundeszahnarztekammer Zahnarztsuche. You can also compare clinics and book appointments with platforms like Jameda, Doctolib, WhatClinic, and Doctena.

Alternatively, you can search for independent dentists via the PZVD website by postal code.

Finding an English-speaking dentist in Germany

Fortunately, many medical professionals in Germany, including dentists, speak a high level of English. Furthermore, some clinics even specify if their practitioners speak additional languages (including English) on their websites. You can also use Zahnarzt: Arztsuche to search for local English-speaking dentists or ask for recommendations on online expat forums.

Visiting a dentist in Germany

Once you register with a dental clinic, you can book an appointment via phone or online. You should arrive a few minutes before your scheduled appointment and report to reception with your insurance card. After that, the waiting time is usually between 10 and 30 minutes. A hygienist will typically clean your teeth before you have your dental checkup. The whole appointment usually takes around 45 minutes to an hour.

If you need follow-up work, you can book it directly at the reception. You will either pay for the treatment after your appointment or wait for the practice to send you a bill. You should also check with your insurance provider to determine how their claim procedure works.

The cost of dental care in Germany

As mentioned, dental care in Germany can be expensive, especially if you need to undergo extensive treatment. Your level of health insurance coverage will also determine how much you will need to pay out-of-pocket. Therefore, it is advisable to ask for a quote (Heil- und Kostenplan) and discuss it with your health insurance provider before going ahead with any specialized procedures. Note that your insurance policy may only partially cover these procedures.

Low-cost dental care in Germany

In Germany, residents qualify for free dental treatments if they receive Hartz IV (welfare) payments. This also covers costly procedures such as bridges and crowns. However, if you don’t receive welfare payments but qualify as a low earner, you can access dental care at reduced rates. Again, it is best to discuss your situation with your health insurance provider.

In October 2020, the state also launched a dental savings initiative to encourage regular dental visits. It offers to cover 70% of your dental costs after five years and 75% after ten years if you maintain your bi-annual checkups.

Children’s dentistry in Germany

Children between the ages of three and six can access free dental screenings and basic cleanings in Germany. However, this only covers three consultations in total. Note that you will need to show your child’s health insurance card at each dental appointment.

Healthcare

Children’s healthcare in Germany

Read more

From the age of six to 18, public insurance generally covers the following dental care procedures:

• Bi-annual dental exams and fissure sealants (prevent cavities)
• Dental fillings (up to the age of 15)
• Teeth realignment or correction

Again, you should ask your insurance provider about additional coverage for specialized pediatric dental procedures before agreeing to them.

Emergency dental care in Germany

If you need emergency care during working hours, you should first contact your dentist. However, if they cannot help you, or if you need assistance outside of working hours, you can use the online emergency dentist directory, Zahnärztlicher Notdienst.

Fortunately, public insurance will fully cover emergency dental procedures in Germany. Private patients, on the other hand, will receive a bill after their treatment, which they can claim back from their insurance provider.

Handy German dental vocabulary

If you’re still brushing up on your German skills, here are some useful dental-related phrases to learn:

• Dentist – der Zahnarzt
• Dental hygienist – die Zahnhygieniker
• Teeth – die Zähne
• Tooth – der Zahn
• Gum – das Zahnfleisch
• Root – die Wurzel
• Ceramic crowns – die Zahnkrone
• Composite filling – die Zahnfüllung/die Plombe
• Braces – die Zahnspange
• Mouth – der Mund
• Tongue – die Zunge
• Teeth cleaning/removal of tartar – Zahnsteinentfernung
• Professional teeth cleaning – Professionelle Zahnreinigung (PZR)
• Plaque – der Zahnbelag
• Tooth extraction – die Zahnextraktion
• Toothpaste – die Zahnpasta
• Toothbrush – die Zahnbürste
• Dental floss – die Zahnseide
• German insurance – Krankenkasse
• Cost estimate – Heil- und Kostenplan

Useful resources

• KZBV – directory for public dentists in Germany
• PZVD – directory for private dentists in Germany
• Zahnärztlicher Notdienst – emergency dental directory
• Eltern – tips for children’s first visit to the dentist
• Zahnarzt-finder – allows you to search for a dentist using your postal code