The costs of supplementary dental insurance explained transparently: How to find the optimal cover
30.04.25
5
Minutes
Katrin Straub
Managing Director at nextsure
The cost of dental supplementary insurance can vary significantly – from just a few euros to substantial monthly premiums. Understand the pricing and secure the best possible cover without any financial surprises. This article shows you what matters.
The topic in brief and concise terms
The cost of dental supplementary insurance varies considerably (from around EUR 8 for young adults to over EUR 80 per month), depending on age, level of cover and dental status.
Important benefits include high reimbursement for dental prostheses (80–100 per cent), professional teeth cleaning and, ideally, short waiting times.
Pay attention to dental reimbursement limits that restrict reimbursements in the first few years, and choose a contribution model (with/without ageing reserves) that fits your financial planning.
Cost overview: What dental supplementary insurance costs per month
The monthly costs of supplementary dental insurance vary considerably. Young adults under 30 can already find policies from around eight euros per month. For more comprehensive cover or at a later entry age, premiums can rise to 50 euros, 70 euros or even over 80 euros per month. For example, for children there are already offers from 1.50 euros per month with good benefits. The investment in supplementary dental insurance can quickly pay for itself given potential dental costs of several thousand euros. A comparison of supplementary dental insurance policies is therefore essential. These price differences reflect the variety of benefits and tariff structures on offer.
Factors affecting the premium of your dental supplementary insurance
Several key factors determine how much dental supplementary insurance costs. The age at entry plays an essential role; younger policyholders often benefit from lower introductory premiums. The level of cover selected is just as important: plans that cover one hundred per cent of the costs for high-quality dental prosthetics such as implants or inlays are naturally more expensive than basic plans. The current condition of your teeth, for example missing teeth or pre-existing conditions, can also affect the premium or lead to exclusions from cover. Many insurers stagger benefits over the first few years, the so-called dental benefit schedule, which initially limits reimbursement. Also note whether the plan is tax-deductible. Choosing the right plan requires a careful review of these aspects.
Analyse the scope of services: Which components are worth your money?
A good dental supplementary insurance policy should cover more than just standard care. Pay attention to the reimbursement level for dental prosthetics, ideally between eighty and one hundred percent for crowns, bridges and implants. The cost of a single implant can quickly exceed 3,000 euros. Professional dental cleanings (PZR) should be covered or subsidised at least once, preferably twice a year, as a PZR often costs between 80 and 120 euros. Other important elements can include:
Coverage for high-quality filling materials such as composite.
Benefits for root canal and periodontal treatments above the standard statutory rate.
Orthodontic benefits, especially relevant for children and young people.
Pain-relieving measures such as acupuncture or anaesthesia.
No waiting periods or waiting periods as short as possible (often three to eight months).
A tariff with 100% cost coverage for preventive care can help avoid expensive treatments in the long term. Careful checking of whether you are allowed to have two dental supplementary insurance policies is usually not productive, as one good policy should be sufficient. Balancing premium level and scope of benefits is the key here.
Practical examples: this much you can save with dental supplementary insurance
The question “How much does dental supplementary insurance cost?” quickly loses its weight when you consider the potential savings. For example, a ceramic inlay can cost between 500 and 1,000 euros. Without supplementary insurance, you bear most of this cost yourself, after deducting the small fixed subsidy from your health insurer. With a good policy that reimburses, for example, ninety per cent, your out-of-pocket contribution is reduced significantly. Suppose an implant costs 3,200 euros and your insurance covers ninety per cent after deducting the insurer’s share of around 400 euros; your out-of-pocket contribution falls from 2,800 euros to just 280 euros. Even with a monthly premium of 40 euros, the insurance would have paid for itself in this case after about seven months. Consider how often a submission of a cost estimate might be necessary. These examples illustrate the financial benefits.
Expert tips for choosing a plan: What you should look out for
When choosing your dental supplementary insurance, you should not just look at the price. Our expert tip: pay attention to the dental benefit schedule, which limits the maximum reimbursement in the first few years – for example, €500 in the first year, €1,000 cumulatively in the first two years. Check whether the insurer waives its ordinary right of cancellation in the first three policy years. Another important point is how the reimbursement is calculated: does the insurer reimburse on the basis of the total invoice, or only after the statutory health insurance fund has made an advance payment? This can make a difference of several hundred euros. Some tariffs also offer improved terms if you choose dentists from a partner network. Also find out directly about the details of the dental supplementary insurance. A careful review helps avoid later disappointments.
Understanding premium models: calculation with or without ageing reserves
Insurers mainly use two models to calculate premiums. Tariffs without ageing provisions often start with very low premiums for young people, but these are then adjusted as age increases or due to general rises in healthcare costs. This means the monthly cost can increase significantly over the years. In contrast are tariffs with ageing provisions. Here, you pay a slightly higher premium from the outset. A portion of this is set aside by the insurer to offset healthcare costs that statistically rise with age and thus keep premiums as stable as possible in later life. Both models have advantages and disadvantages; the choice depends on your personal financial planning and risk appetite. A premium that remains stable over the long term can be particularly advantageous in retirement. This structure has a major influence on how much dental supplementary insurance costs over its entire term.
Choosing the right dental insurance requires a systematic approach. Here’s the best way to proceed:
Assess your needs: Consider which benefits are important to you. Do you mainly need cover for expensive dental prosthetics, or also for prophylaxis and orthodontics (e.g. for braces for adults)?
Compare offers: Use independent comparison tools and pay attention not only to the price, but also to the price-performance ratio. Often, three to five tariffs make the shortlist.
Answer health questions honestly: False information can result in the loss of insurance cover. As a rule, questions are asked about missing teeth and ongoing or recommended treatments.
Check the contract details: Pay attention to waiting periods, benefit limits, cancellation periods and exclusions. A waiting period of eight months is not unusual.
Seek advice: If you are unsure, professional advice can help you find the optimal tariff.
Take sufficient time for this process, because a good decision can save you several thousand euros over many years. With these steps, you can be sure to find the answer to the question of how much a good dental insurance policy should cost you.
nextsure: Your partner for worry-free dental health
The complexity of tariffs and the question “How much does dental supplementary insurance cost me personally?” can be overwhelming. At nextsure, we understand that every dental situation and every budget is unique. Our mission is to offer you tailored and easy-to-understand insurance solutions. We help you filter the right tariff from the wide range of options – from basic cover to premium protection – that precisely meets your needs. Benefit from our expertise and our fully digitalised advisory and application processes. A suitable dental supplementary insurance is an important building block of your healthcare provision. Let us shape your optimal cover together.
Request an individual risk analysis now: Have your insurance situation checked free of charge and receive specific optimisation suggestions.
More useful links
The PKV (Association of Private Health Insurance) provides information in a press release about the rise in supplementary dental insurance in Germany.
The GKV-Spitzenverband provides key figures and statistics on statutory health insurance.
The Federal Ministry of Health provides comprehensive information on dental treatment.
Also from the Federal Ministry of Health, you can find information here on dental check-ups.
The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Dentists (KZBV) explains the fixed subsidies for dental prostheses.
Destatis, the Federal Statistical Office, provides tables on health expenditure by type of benefit.
FAQ
How much does good supplementary dental insurance cost?
A good dental supplementary insurance policy that covers around 80-90 per cent of dental prosthetics and preventive care costs about 20 to 35 euros per month for a 30-year-old person. For older people or more comprehensive cover, it can be 40 to 70 euros.
Which factors have the greatest impact on the price of dental supplementary insurance?
The key factors are the age at entry, the desired scope of benefits (particularly the level of reimbursement for dental prosthetics), the dental health at the time the contract is concluded and the chosen contribution model (with or without ageing provisions).
Are there dental supplementary insurance policies without a waiting period, and what do they cost?
Yes, there are dental supplementary insurance policies without a waiting period. These are not necessarily more expensive than plans with a waiting period, but they often have strict benefit limits (dental benefit scales) in the first few years. The costs are comparable to other plans and depend on age and benefits.
What is a dental benefit limit and how does it affect the cost?
The dental benefit limit restricts the maximum reimbursement amount in the first policy years (e.g. €1,000 in the first year, €2,000 in the second, etc.). It does not directly affect the monthly premium, but it does affect the value of the insurance at the beginning.
Are premiums for dental supplementary insurance tax-deductible?
Yes, contributions to supplementary dental insurance can be claimed as special expenses in your tax return as part of provision expenses, provided the maximum amounts have not already been exhausted by other insurance policies.
Do dental supplementary insurance policies also cover the cost of professional teeth cleaning?
Many good dental supplementary insurance policies cover the cost of professional teeth cleanings once or twice a year, either in full or partially up to a certain maximum amount.
