Taking Out Dental Insurance for Your Child: A Guide to Financial Security
12 Jul 2025
7
Minutes
Katrin Straub
CEO at nextsure
Around every second child in Germany requires braces, but the statutory health insurance often only covers part of the cost. An additional dental insurance for children can bridge this gap and mitigate four-digit expenses. We will show you when and how to best secure coverage for your child.
The topic in brief and concise terms
A dental insurance for children is advisable, as the statutory health insurance only covers the costs for braces (often several thousand euros) in cases of severe misalignments (KIG 3-5).
The best time to complete it is between the ages of three and five, before an orthodontist has diagnosed a misalignment.
Pay attention to choosing a plan with high reimbursement rates (at least 80-90%), inclusion of all KIG levels, short waiting periods, and adequate prophylaxis services.
Cost Trap Braces: Why Statutory Health Insurance Often Isn't Enough
The statutory health insurance (GKV) only covers the cost of braces under strict conditions. The classification into orthodontic indication groups (KIG), which divide the severity of the misalignment into five stages, is decisive. Cost coverage only occurs from KIG stage 3, meaning a pronounced misalignment that requires medically necessary treatment.
Milder misalignments of stages KIG 1 and 2 are considered an aesthetic problem, and treatment costs of up to €4,000 must be fully privately paid. Even with cost coverage by GKV (KIG 3-5), parents must initially advance a personal contribution of twenty percent. Although this amount is reimbursed after successful completion of the treatment, it represents a financial burden for many families. Added to this are costs for modern and more comfortable options that go beyond standard care.
Scope of services: This is what a good children's dental insurance covers
A comprehensive dental supplementary insurance covers precisely the gaps left by the statutory health insurance. It not only reduces personal costs but also broadens access to high-quality treatment options. A key benefit is the coverage of orthodontic treatments, even for KIG levels 1 and 2. This ensures that your child receives the necessary correction, even when it doesn't meet the strict statutory insurance regulations.
Additionally, many plans cover important extra services that can quickly cost several hundred euros. These include, for example:
Modern treatment methods: Costs for discreet ceramic brackets or lingual braces, which can cost up to 1,500 euros more, are partially or fully covered.
Professional teeth cleaning: Especially for wearers of fixed braces, intensive prophylaxis is essential to reduce the risk of cavities. Many plans reimburse costs ranging from 80 to 120 euros per cleaning.
Fissure sealing: Protection of molars from cavities is often only paid by the statutory health insurance for the two rear-most molars. A private insurance policy covers the sealing of all molars.
High-quality fillings: Instead of amalgam, the cost for tooth-coloured composite fillings is reimbursed at 100 percent.
An example calculation: A brace costs 4,500 euros. The statutory health insurance provides 3,000 euros at KIG 3. For additional benefits like better brackets and a retainer to stabilize, 1,500 euros are incurred. A good insurance plan covers ninety percent of that, which is 1,350 euros.
The right time: When you should take out insurance
The ideal time to take out dental insurance for your child is between the ages of three and five. At this age, the milk teeth are usually complete, but any potential misalignment has generally not yet been medically diagnosed. This is crucial because insurers do not cover treatments that have already been identified or recommended. Sign the contract before the orthodontist certifies a need for treatment.
Taking out a policy early not only secures you lower premiums, often under 15 Euros per month, but also prevents exclusions of benefits. As soon as a diagnosis is made, it's often too late for a comprehensive contract. Early insurance is therefore one of the most important strategic decisions for your child's dental health.
Contract details in focus: What to consider when choosing a tariff
Not every plan is equally good. To find the best dental supplementary insurance for your child, you should pay attention to several criteria. The level of reimbursement for orthodontics is the most important feature. It should be at least eighty, preferably ninety percent, and also apply to KIG levels 1 and 2.
Also pay attention to the following points in the contractual conditions:
Benefit scale: In the first years, reimbursement is often limited. A good plan should provide at least 1,000 euros for orthodontics in the first year.
Waiting periods: Many plans require a waiting period of eight months before orthodontic benefits can be claimed. However, some providers dispense with this.
Scope: The plan should explicitly include modern techniques such as invisible aligners, retainers for follow-up care, and functional analytical services.
Prophylaxis services: The coverage for professional teeth cleaning should be possible at least once, preferably twice a year, without high copayment.
A detailed comparison of conditions protects you from unwelcome surprises in the event of a claim and ensures the best possible care.
Expert Tip: Health Questions and the Insurance Case
When taking out supplemental dental insurance, you must answer health questions truthfully. A common question is: "Has a dental or jaw misalignment been diagnosed or has treatment been recommended?" A "Yes" often leads to rejection or an exclusion of benefits. That is why taking out insurance before the first visit to the orthodontist is so important.
Our expert tip: The insurance event in orthodontics does not occur only when the braces are fitted, but already with the creation of the treatment and cost plan by the doctor. An orthodontic insurance policy that is taken out only after this point will no longer cover this specific case. Therefore, plan ahead to ensure full protection.
Conclusion: Act proactively and save costs
Yes, you can and should take out dental insurance for your child to minimize financial risks and ensure top-notch care. Statutory health insurance only covers a fraction of the potential costs, especially for minor misalignments and modern treatment methods. A good policy for under 20 euros a month can save you thousands.
The key to success lies in taking action early and carefully comparing the rates. This way, you lay the foundation for your child's healthy smile without breaking your budget. The right insurance gives you the freedom to make decisions based on health and not financial constraints.
Request an individual risk analysis now: Have your insurance situation checked for free and receive specific optimization suggestions.
More useful links
Gesundheitliche Chancengleichheit provides a report on children's dental health in Germany, which is indeed world-class but does not reach all children equally.
Kassenzahnärztliche Bundesvereinigung (KZBV) provides information on measures to prevent early childhood caries.
Bundeszahnärztekammer (BZAEK) provides information on prevention in children's and adolescent dental care.
Bundesgesundheitsministerium offers information on the recommended dental check-ups.
GKV-Spitzenverband includes a press release on the topic of dental health.
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kinderzahnheilkunde (DGKiZ) provides comprehensive information and resources on pediatric dentistry.
FAQ
From what age can I take out dental insurance for my child?
You can often take out supplementary dental insurance for your child from birth. It is advisable to do so at the latest between the ages of three and five, as by this time the milk teeth are fully developed and usually no misalignments have been diagnosed.
What happens if I cancel before the treatment is completed?
If you terminate the contract, your entitlement to services will also end. Any treatments that have already started must then be fully paid for by you from the termination date onwards. The entitlement to reimbursement of the statutory health insurance (GKV) personal contribution may also be at risk.
Are waiting periods for children's dental insurance common?
Yes, in the field of orthodontics, there is often a specific waiting period of eight months. However, some plans also offer immediate coverage without waiting periods, which is an important criterion for comparison.
Does the insurance also cover a discreet or "invisible" brace?
Powerful plans also cover the additional costs for more aesthetically pleasing solutions. These include tooth-colored ceramic brackets, lingual braces placed behind the teeth, or transparent aligner trays, which are not covered by statutory health insurance.
What is the difference between the personal contribution and private additional services?
The personal contribution is the twenty percent of the standard care costs that you initially cover for a statutory health insurance service (KIG 3-5) and later get reimbursed. Private supplementary benefits are all costs for treatments that exceed the standard of the statutory health insurance (e.g., better materials) and must be fully borne by oneself.
Can I deduct the contributions to the dental insurance from my taxes?
Yes, the contributions to dental supplementary insurance can be claimed on the tax return as part of precautionary expenses. This applies together with other insurance contributions up to the statutory limits.
