Who pays for wisdom tooth removal in Germany? Public health insurance (GKV) does, including surgical removal under local anaesthetic. You pay for extras you choose: general anaesthesia without a medical reason costs about EUR 200 to 300 per hour, and a 3D scan is agreed privately. Supplementary dental insurance only helps if its terms name anaesthesia explicitly.
Public fee points, GOZ fees and costs of pain control from published sources, as of 2026.
Example
Typical range
Removal as a public insurance benefit
EUR 0 for surgery and local anaesthetic
General anaesthesia by choice
about EUR 200 to 300 per hour
Twilight sedation by choice
about EUR 90 to 150 per hour
Nitrous oxide by choice
about EUR 100 to 150 per hour
Private bill GOZ 3040 to 3045 per tooth, 2.3 times
about EUR 70 to 99 fee before extras
As of October 2026.
Anaesthesia prices vary by practice, a lower rate often applies from the second hour.
The EUR 150 for the 3D scan and the 90 percent refund in the worked example are guide values from
our quoting practice.
Worked example
All four wisdom teeth in one session
A 24-year-old public patient wants all four impacted wisdom teeth removed in one appointment under general anaesthesia. It takes just under two hours, with a 3D scan beforehand.
Surgery, wound care, local anaesthetic
EUR 0, public benefit
General anaesthesia by choice, two hours
at most about EUR 400 to 600
3D scan, agreed privately
about EUR 150
With a tariff refunding anaesthesia and scan at 90 percent
about EUR 55 to 75 out of pocket
Without a suitable tariff you pay up to about EUR 750. Over two visits under local anaesthetic, the removal costs you nothing.
What public health insurance pays
If you are in the German public system, wisdom tooth removal is covered when there is a medical reason: inflammation, lack of space, decay or a tooth stuck in the bone. That includes surgery, wound care and the local anaesthetic. The national association of statutory health insurance dentists (KZBV) states that local anaesthetic is always paid by the insurer.
Dentists bill public insurance using the BEMA fee catalogue. The points show how much work is involved:
BEMA no.
Service
Points (as of 1 Jan 2026)
44 (X2)
Removing a tooth with several roots
15
45 (X3)
Removing a deeply fractured tooth
40
47a (Ost1)
Removing a tooth by cutting away bone (osteotomy)
58
48 (Ost2)
Removing an impacted or displaced tooth by osteotomy
78
What you pay yourself
Public insurance only pays for general anaesthesia when a simpler form of pain control is not possible. Recognised cases include children under 12 who cannot cooperate, people with intellectual disability or severe movement disorders, a dental phobia diagnosed by a specialist, allergy to local anaesthetics, and larger operations that cannot be done under local anaesthetic.
The KZBV uses wisdom teeth as the typical example of anaesthesia by choice: all four can usually be removed over several visits under local anaesthetic. If you want everything done in one session while asleep, you pay for the anaesthesia.
A 3D scan (digital volume tomography, DVT) is not a public insurance benefit. The practice must agree it with you privately and should give you a cost statement with the medical reason beforehand, which you can send to your insurer.
What privately insured patients see on the bill
Private patients are billed under the German fee scale for dentists (GOZ). Its point value has been 5.62421 cents since 1988. Per tooth, before X-rays, anaesthetic, stitches and surcharges, that gives:
GOZ no.
Service
Points
2.3 times
3.5 times
3010
Removing a tooth with several roots
110
EUR 14.23
EUR 21.65
3030
Removing a tooth by osteotomy
350
EUR 45.27
EUR 68.90
3040
Removing an impacted or displaced tooth
540
EUR 69.85
EUR 106.30
3045
Removing an extremely displaced tooth
767
EUR 99.22
EUR 150.98
When supplementary dental insurance pays
Because public insurance already pays for the operation, there is usually little left for a supplementary tariff. It only helps here if the terms name general anaesthesia, twilight sedation or nitrous oxide. Some tariffs include this kind of extended pain control for dental treatment, many do not.
If removal has already been recommended when you apply, you will be asked about it and it will not be paid. Signing now just to get the anaesthesia refunded almost never works.
When you do not need extra cover for this
If local anaesthetic is fine for you and you have the teeth out over two visits, you pay nothing for the removal as a public patient. Take out supplementary dental insurance for crowns, implants and cleaning, not for wisdom teeth.
Step by step
Ask whether removal is medically necessary and why.
Ask whether local anaesthetic over several visits is enough.
Get a written cost statement for anaesthesia and the 3D scan in advance.
Send it to your public insurer if there is a medical reason for anaesthesia.
Check whether your dental tariff names anaesthesia or sedation and ask in writing before treatment.
Checklist
Medical reason for removal documented
Public and private items separated on the cost plan
Hourly price for anaesthesia known
3D scan cost agreed in writing
Tariff terms on anaesthesia and sedation read
Ride home and companion arranged after anaesthesia
Common mistakes
Assuming public insurance pays for any general anaesthesia
Taking out dental insurance after the diagnosis and hoping for a refund
Signing the private agreement for a 3D scan without knowing the price
Not getting a specialist diagnosis for a real phobia, even though public insurance may then pay
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
Does public health insurance pay for wisdom tooth removal?
Yes, when there is a medical reason.
That includes surgical removal under local anaesthetic.
Does public insurance pay for general anaesthesia?
Only when medically necessary, for example with a specialist-diagnosed phobia or an allergy to
local anaesthetics.
Anaesthesia by choice is on you.
How much does general anaesthesia at the dentist cost?
Usually about EUR 200 to 300 per hour, plus possible preliminary and aftercare visits.
Twilight sedation costs about EUR 90 to 150 per hour.
Will supplementary dental insurance pay for anaesthesia?
Only if the tariff names it.
If removal was already recommended when you applied, even such a tariff will not pay.
What do private patients pay?
The practice bills under GOZ, for example no.
3040 or 3045 per tooth, about EUR 70 to 99 at 2.3 times plus extras.
Your private insurer refunds under its terms.
Is a 3D scan mandatory?
No, but practices often recommend it for deep teeth close to the nerve.
For public patients it is a private service that must be agreed in advance.
