Test winner supplementary dental insurance 2025: How to protect your smile cost-effectively
13.05.2025
3
Minutes
Katrin Straub
Managing Director at nextsure
A dental bill worth thousands of euros can affect anyone. But how do you find the cover that really pays out when the worst happens? Discover the strategy that not only helps you identify the 2025 test winner among supplementary dental insurance policies, but also use it to your best advantage.
The topic in brief and concise terms
A best-in-test seal is a good starting point, but the best dental supplementary insurance depends on your age, dental condition and individual needs.
Look for high reimbursement rates (at least 85-90 percent) for dental prosthetics and 100 percent for dental treatments, as well as generous cover for professional dental cleaning.
The dental benefit cap (sum limit) in the first few years is more important than the waiting period; good plans reimburse at least €2,500 in the first two years.
Interpreting a test winner seal correctly: More than just a grade
Every year, institutes such as Stiftung Warentest or Finanztest name the test winners among dental supplementary insurance policies. In 2024, for example, 287 tariffs were examined, of which 125 received the rating “Very Good”. Such tests provide an excellent initial guide and confirm a high level of benefits.
However, the assessment is based on standardised model customers, for example a 25-year-old person. Your personal needs, your age and, above all, the condition of your teeth are the decisive factors. A test-winning tariff is therefore a starting point, not a final answer.
The real task is to understand the criteria behind the assessment and apply them to your situation. Only then can you be sure that the cover you choose will genuinely apply when it matters most.
Performance analysis: These four components define a top-tier tariff
A premium plan is characterised by high reimbursement rates in four key areas. Statutory health insurance often only provides a fixed subsidy of 60 per cent towards standard care, which is by no means sufficient for high-quality solutions. Therefore, pay attention to the following benefit details:
Dental prosthetics: For implants, bridges and crowns, the plan should cover at least 85 to 90 per cent of the costs. Top plans even reimburse 100 per cent.
Professional dental cleaning (PZR): At least 150 to 200 euros per year should be covered for preventive care, as this helps to prevent expensive treatments.
Dental treatment: High-quality composite fillings, root canal or periodontal treatments should be covered 100 per cent to avoid co-payments.
Orthodontics (optional): For children or, in special cases, for adults, cost coverage for braces is crucial.
A detailed comparison of dental supplementary insurance shows that the differences can be considerable, especially in these details. What may seem like a bargain can quickly become a cost trap.
Costs and premiums: Calculating the true cost of a policy
The monthly contributions for dental supplementary insurance vary widely. A 30-year-old can already obtain good cover for under €20 per month, while the cost at age 50 can rise to over €30. Low-cost entry-level tariffs for under €10 often only cover dental prosthetics.
A calculation example illustrates the benefit: a single implant costs around €3,000. Without insurance, your own share after deducting the statutory health insurance subsidy is approximately €2,400. With a 90% tariff, your share falls to just €300.
The crucial question is not what dental supplementary insurance costs, but how much you save when you make a claim. A higher premium for a high-performance tariff can pay for itself more than once with the first major treatment.
Expert knowledge: understanding waiting periods and sum limits
Two clauses are crucial for benefits in the first few years: the waiting period and the dental benefit scale. Many policies include a waiting period of three to eight months during which no costs are reimbursed. However, there are also many high-performance policies with no waiting period that provide immediate cover.
More important is the sum limit, also known as the dental benefit scale. It caps the maximum reimbursement in the first few years. A good policy reimburses at least EUR 2,500 in the first two years. Typical scales look like this, for example:
1st year: maximum EUR 1,000
1st to 2nd year: maximum EUR 2,000
1st to 3rd year: maximum EUR 3,000
From the 4th or 5th year onwards: unlimited benefits
Our expert tip: Check whether the scale applies per policy year or calendar year. If you take out the policy in December, under a calendar-year arrangement the next, higher tier begins just one month later in January.
The practical case: How a missing policy led to €3,000 in costs
A 45-year-old employee required an implant in the front tooth area after a sports injury. The total cost came to €3,500. His statutory health insurance covered only the fixed allowance of around €500 for the standard provision of a bridge.
Without private supplementary dental insurance, he faced an out-of-pocket payment of €3,000. Had he taken out a plan with 90% reimbursement for €35 per month, his own share would have been only €350. This situation shows how quickly a monthly premium perceived as low can prevent a financial shortfall.
So the question is not whether supplementary dental insurance makes sense, but which plan offers the right level of protection for the individual. This depends on the specific benefits.
Scope of cover in detail: what a good insurance policy really pays out
The devil is in the detail of the scope of cover. A good policy should cover more than just the actual dental prosthetics. Full cost coverage for a professional dental cleaning is a clear sign of quality, as it helps safeguard dental health in the long term.
Make sure that modern treatment methods such as composite fillings or root canal treatments are also reimbursed at 100 per cent. This prevents you from being left to pay hundreds of euros out of pocket for tooth-preserving measures despite having insurance. The question of what dental supplementary insurance covers must be clarified before the contract is signed.
Another aspect is tax deductibility. Contributions to dental supplementary insurance can be claimed as preventative expenses in your tax return, which further reduces the net burden. [://---]
Armed with this knowledge, you are equipped to search the market not only for test winners, but for the plan that is right for you.
Request an individual risk analysis now: Have your insurance situation checked free of charge and receive concrete suggestions for improvement.
More useful links
The PKV Association provides information in a press release about the strong increase in supplementary dental insurance in Germany.
Statista offers statistics on the ownership of dental prosthesis insurance in Germany.
The Consumer Advice Centre provides comprehensive information on the risks and benefits of supplementary dental insurance.
The German Dental Association (BZÄK) publishes data and figures on dentistry in Germany.
The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Dentists (KZBV) offers its statistical yearbook with relevant information.
The Federal Ministry of Health provides information on dental treatment in Germany.
The German Society for Dental, Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine (DGZMK) provides information on dental, oral and maxillofacial medicine on its website.
The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) offers a glossary entry on human dentistry.
The Association of Substitute Health Insurance Funds (VDEK) publishes data on expenditure for dental treatments.
FAQ
What is the difference between the insurance year and the calendar year in the dental benefit schedule?
A calendar-year arrangement is often more advantageous. If you take out the contract in November, for example, the next, higher reimbursement level of the dental scale begins as early as January of the following year. With a policy based on insurance years, the higher level would not apply until November of the following year.
Are the costs of a professional dental cleaning always covered?
No, not all plans cover professional dental cleaning (PZR). Good plans, however, often reimburse 100 per cent of the costs, usually up to an annual maximum of 150 to 200 euros. This is an important criterion when choosing a plan.
Can I take out dental supplementary insurance if treatment has already been recommended?
Usually not. Most insurers exclude cover for treatments that were already recommended, planned or started before the policy was taken out. There are a few specialist tariffs that provide cover here, but these are often associated with higher costs or restrictions.
What happens if I provide incorrect information in the health questions?
Incorrect or incomplete information in the health questions can lead to loss of insurance cover. The insurer may withdraw from the contract, terminate it, or refuse payment for the relevant claim. Honesty is essential here.
Are premiums for dental supplementary insurance tax-deductible?
Yes, the contributions can be claimed as part of other precautionary expenses in your income tax return. However, the actual effect depends on your individual tax circumstances and the maximum amounts you have already utilised.
Is there dental supplementary insurance without a coverage limit?
No, practically all plans have an initial benefit limit (dental scale) for the first three to five years to protect the insured pool. There are no plans without any limit. After the scale period ends, however, good plans provide unlimited benefits.
