A German politician once joked that you can tell those with public insurance from those with private insurance by their teeth. It’s almost true. Public insurance will only fund one preventative visit to the dentist each year, as well as any fillings. If you would like more expensive ceramic material for the filling, you’ll have to pick up the tab. If you require more complex procedures such as a crown or bridge, public insurers will only pick up a portion of the cost: about €100. Some will pay a little more if you can prove you’ve been to the dentist every year for the past five or 10 years. Public insurers also don’t contribute to regular teeth cleaning, which can cost between €60 and €100.

By contrast, private insurance companies will pay for every part of your dental care, including crowns, bridges and two cleaning sessions a year. Perhaps the politician wasn’t joking after all.
Children should begin visiting the dentist annually when they turn 3. The visits are covered by both types of insurance. After that, the procedures covered by public insurance are the same as with adults.

Beyond basic care, German dentists and plastic surgeons offer the full gamut of whitening, straightening and corrective procedures – for a price. If it’s not medically necessary, public insurance won’t cover it, but private insurance might.