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Does supplementary dental insurance pay for professional teeth cleaning?

In short

Does supplementary dental insurance pay for professional teeth cleaning? Many tariffs do, usually with a budget of about EUR 100 to 200 a year. In Germany one session often costs EUR 80 to 150, and many public health insurers add EUR 40 to 150 a year. A policy rarely pays off for cleaning alone; dentures and implants matter more.

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What it costs

Cost per session and usual subsidies in Germany, as of October 2026.

Example	Typical range
Standard cleaning at the dentist	about EUR 80 to 150 per session
Public health insurance subsidy, directly at the dentist	usually EUR 40 to 150 a year
Subsidy via bonus programme or health account	up to EUR 200 or more with some insurers
Budget in supplementary dental tariffs	often EUR 100 to 200 a year

Costs and subsidies from published figures, as of October 2026.

The budget per tariff is a guide value from our quoting practice (Richtwert aus der Angebotspraxis); what your tariff pays is set out in its terms.

Worked example

Two cleanings a year, tariff with a EUR 150 budget

How your public insurer, the supplementary tariff and you share the cost.

Two sessions at EUR 110 each	EUR 220
Public insurance subsidy, twice EUR 40	EUR 80
Remaining after the subsidy	EUR 140
Paid by supplementary dental insurance, up to EUR 150	EUR 140

You pay EUR 0 yourself. Without the public subsidy EUR 70 would remain with you.

What professional teeth cleaning costs

Professional teeth cleaning (professionelle Zahnreinigung, PZR) is a private service in Germany. Dentists charge it per tooth under the fee schedule for dentists (GOZ), with a multiplier depending on effort. For a full set of teeth and a usual multiplier you will typically pay EUR 80 to 120, with air polishing or heavy deposits EUR 150 or more.

Public health insurance pays only for simple removal of hard tartar once a year. Thorough cleaning of all surfaces, polishing and fluoride treatment are not included.

Type of cleaning	Usual cost per session
Simple cleaning, little plaque	about EUR 50 to 80
Standard cleaning, full set of teeth	about EUR 80 to 120
Complex cleaning with air polishing	about EUR 100 to 180
Cleaning with periodontitis	about EUR 120 to 200

What your public health insurer adds

Many public health insurers (gesetzliche Krankenkassen) pay a voluntary subsidy, often EUR 40 to 75 per session for one or two sessions a year. Some only pay at partner dentists, others through a bonus programme or health account, sometimes considerably more.

Ask your insurer first. The subsidy costs you nothing, and some supplementary tariffs only pay what is left after the public share. If you have private health insurance instead, check your own tariff.

How supplementary dental insurance pays

Tariffs handle cleaning in three ways: a fixed euro amount per year, a number of sessions or a percentage of the bill. A budget of EUR 100 to 200 a year covers two standard sessions if your public insurer adds something.

With many tariffs cleaning is covered straight away, without a waiting period. Others apply the general eight month waiting period or a cap on benefits in the first years that also affects cleaning.

Rule in the tariff	What it means for you
Fixed amount, about EUR 150 a year	predictable, you pay the rest at expensive practices
One or two sessions a year	full bill paid, but no extra appointments
Percentage of the bill, about 80 percent	a share remains with you each time
Only the rest after the public subsidy	claim the public subsidy first

When you do not need a tariff for this

If you only want cleaning covered, a tariff often costs more in premiums than it pays back. Good supplementary dental insurance costs about EUR 15 to 30 a month at age 35, so EUR 180 to 360 a year. Cleaning alone brings back at most EUR 100 to 200.

It makes sense if the tariff mainly covers expensive dentures such as implants or crowns well. Cleaning is then an extra that recovers part of the premium.

Independent reviewers consider it not clearly proven that professional cleaning prevents tooth decay better than the public tartar removal. It does help many people against plaque and gum inflammation.

Step by step

Ask your health insurer about its subsidy for professional cleaning.
Check your tariff terms for the amount, number of sessions and waiting period.
Submit the bill to your public insurer first if the tariff only pays the rest.
Then send the bill and the insurer's statement to your supplementary insurance.
Plan appointments so you use the annual budget.

Checklist

Cleaning budget in euros or sessions known
Waiting period for cleaning checked
Public insurance subsidy claimed
Tariff covers dentures well, not just cleaning
Bill with fee codes kept

Common mistakes

Taking out a tariff just for teeth cleaning
Not claiming the voluntary subsidy from your public insurer
Letting the budget expire in December
Assuming every tariff pays for cleaning without a waiting period

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

How often does supplementary insurance pay for cleaning?

Usually once or twice a calendar year or up to a fixed amount. Some tariffs pay for any number of sessions as long as the budget lasts.

Does public health insurance pay for professional teeth cleaning?

Not as a standard benefit. Many insurers pay a voluntary subsidy; the amount and conditions vary widely.

Is there a waiting period for cleaning?

With many tariffs, no. Some apply the general eight month waiting period, so read the terms.

Does cleaning count towards the benefit cap in the first years?

That depends on the tariff. Some count it towards the first years' maximums, others treat it separately.

Is a tariff just for prevention worth it?

Rarely. The premium is often close to the possible refund, and you then lack cover for expensive dentures.

Can I have my teeth cleaned at an English-speaking dentist?

For supplementary insurance, usually yes, any licensed dentist will do. Some public insurance subsidies are only paid at partner practices.

Sources

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