# Insurance for dental practices and orthodontists in Germany

> A dental practice is a small clinic: treatment units, digital X-ray, scanner and milling unit, plus implants, sedation and oral surgery. Professional liability is compulsory; the expensive gaps often lie elsewhere: a treatment unit that fails after water damage, a week of downtime or an attack on your X-ray images. This page shows what you need and what it costs.

Quelle/Source: https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-dental-practice.php  
Updated: 2026-09-18

## Does professional liability pay if an implant fails?

Not for the implant itself. An implant that does not integrate is initially a treatment risk, not a liability; replacing it is a matter of warranty and goodwill. Professional liability pays if you made a mistake and the patient suffered harm as a result, such as an injured nerve, an infection from poor hygiene or missing informed consent. It also fends off unjustified claims.

## At a glance

- **Compulsory:** Professional liability under the code of your regional dental chamber (Landeszahnärztekammer); for dentists with a statutory health insurance licence, § 95e SGB V (Social Code Book V) requires at least €3 million per claim, €5 million with employed dentists
- **Biggest risk:** Treatment errors with implants and surgery, such as nerve damage
- **Basic cover from:** about €350 a year for professional liability when first setting up
- **Statutory accident insurer:** BGW, the Berufsgenossenschaft for health and welfare services; mandatory for every practice with staff, for you as owner only voluntarily
- **Often forgotten:** Treatment units and X-ray need electronics cover, because contents insurance does not pay for breakdowns
- **WZ 2025 / NACE:** 86.23 Zahnarztpraxen

## What goes wrong in this trade

- **Surgery and implants:** Nerve injuries, perforation of the maxillary sinus and infections after implant placement are among the expensive liability cases in dentistry.
- **Consent and treatment plan:** Without documented information about risks and alternatives, you are liable even without a treatment error.
- **Water at every unit:** Every treatment unit has water and suction connections. A leak under the floor quickly causes major damage.
- **Expensive technology:** Treatment units, cone beam CT (DVT), intraoral scanners and milling units easily cost several hundred thousand euros.
- **X-rays and data:** Digital X-rays, practice software and billing are a target for extortion, with reporting duties under the GDPR.
- **Back, eyes, needlesticks:** Awkward posture at the chair, needlestick injuries and allergies to materials affect dentists and their teams.

**Risk radar** (Compared with other trades, 1 low to 5 high.): Liability 5, Fire and water 4, Theft 2, Cyber 4, Downtime 4, Health 3

## The insurance you need

- **Professional indemnity** (Essential): Required by professional rules and, for dentists with a statutory health insurance licence, by law; pays for treatment errors and missing informed consent. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-professional-indemnity.php
- **Business contents** (Essential): Replaces furnishings, units, materials and supplies at new value after fire, burst pipes, storm and burglary. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-contents.php
- **Electronic equipment** (Strongly advised): Covers X-ray, DVT, scanner and treatment units against operating errors, power surges and short circuits. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-electronic-equipment.php
- **Business interruption** (Strongly advised): As practice downtime cover it pays salaries, rent and leasing while the practice is idle after damage or your illness. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-interruption.php
- **Cyber insurance** (Strongly advised): Helps with encrypted practice software, stolen patient data and extortion. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-cyber-insurance.php
- **Occupational disability** (Strongly advised): Your back, hands and eyes are your tools; private disability income cover pays earlier than the professional pension scheme (Versorgungswerk). https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-occupational-disability.php
- **Business legal expenses** (Depends on the business): For disputes with patients over fees, or with your landlord, staff or the regional association of statutory health insurance dentists (KZV). https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-legal-expenses.php
- **Company pension (bAV)** (Depends on the business): Dental nurses are sought after; a company pension helps you keep them. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-company-pension.php

## What it costs: example prices

General dentists pay considerably less for professional liability than oral surgeons and orthodontists who operate. Property cover, on the other hand, costs more than in many medical practices, because the equipment is worth more.

| Insurance | Example | Typical range |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Professional indemnity | General dentistry, first set up | about €350 to €900 a year |
| Professional indemnity | Established practice with implantology and employed dentists | about €1,500 to €5,000 a year |
| Professional indemnity | Oral surgery or orthodontics with procedures | about €5,000 to €10,000 a year and more |
| Business contents | Practice contents with three units, worth €350,000 | about €700 to €1,600 a year |
| Electronic equipment | DVT, scanner and X-ray worth €150,000 | about €800 to €2,000 a year |

For comparison: Basic cover of professional liability and practice contents costs about as much a year as one or two all ceramic crowns.

_Guide prices excluding insurance tax, as of September 2026, based on published tariff examples and on our own quoting practice. Professional liability premiums depend heavily on the range of treatments; we obtain the exact quote for you._

- [arzthaftpflicht-vergleich.de: Berufshaftpflicht Zahnärzte](https://www.arzthaftpflicht-vergleich.de/berufshaftpflicht-zahnaerzte.html)
- [Finanzchef24: Berufshaftpflicht für Zahnärzte](https://www.finanzchef24.de/versicherung/zahnarzt)
- [Gesetze im Internet: § 95e SGB V](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_5/__95e.html)

## Our suggestions: three packages

- **Starter** (new practice or takeover of a single handed practice without surgery): Professional indemnity, Business contents. Together: about €1,000 to €2,500 a year
- **Practice** (established practice with digital X-ray, scanner and a team): Professional indemnity, Business contents, Electronic equipment, Business interruption, Cyber insurance. Together: about €3,500 to €8,000 a year
- **All round** (group practice or practice with implantology and employed dentists): Professional indemnity, Business contents, Electronic equipment, Business interruption, Cyber insurance, Business legal expenses, Company pension (bAV). Together: about €7,000 to €18,000 a year

## The worst day in the dental practice

Six things that really happen in dental practices, all on a single Thursday. Click through the day and see who pays.

- 07:30: A water hose under surgery 2 burst overnight. The unit and floor are soaked. (€42,000, Paid by: Business contents)
- 09:10: After a power surge the DVT reports an error; the tube is faulty. (€18,000, Paid by: Electronic equipment)
- 10:45: After a wisdom tooth extraction a patient has a numb chin and alleges missing informed consent. (€35,000, Paid by: Professional indemnity)
- 13:20: The practice software is encrypted; X-rays and billing are out of reach. (€22,000, Paid by: Cyber insurance)
- 15:40: While fitting a bridge, an instrument falls into the patient's throat and the patient has to go to hospital. (€6,000, Paid by: Professional indemnity)
- 18:00: After the water damage the practice runs at half capacity for a week; salaries and leasing keep running. (€24,000, Paid by: Business interruption)

**Damage so far:** €147,000

## Practical tips from your broker

- Adjust your sum insured to § 95e SGB V as soon as you employ dentists: €5 million instead of €3 million per claim then applies.
- Name every service in the policy: implantology, sedation, laser, aesthetic treatments such as fillers, and an in house lab.
- Insure DVT, scanner and units with electronics cover at new value, including leased equipment.
- Check that your practice downtime cover has a daily rate that really covers salaries, rent and leasing.
- Make sure you have long run off cover when you hand over the practice: claims from treatment can come years later.
- Back up X-rays and practice data daily, separated from the network; many cyber insurers require it.

## Why NAMMERT for your business

- **We look at your range of treatments:** As a broker we compare several insurers and make sure implantology, sedation and aesthetic services are in the policy before a patient puts it to the test.
- **We settle claims ourselves:** In boat insurance we settle claims ourselves. We know how an insurer values equipment and downtime after water damage.
- **Practice, lab and private cover together:** Professional liability, practice equipment, your team's pensions and your private cover are handled by one contact.
- **Family run since 1989:** Our advice is free, as the insurer pays our commission. You reach people who know your practice.

## FAQ

### Is professional liability insurance compulsory for dentists in Germany?

Yes. The professional codes of the regional dental chambers require it, and for dentists with a statutory health insurance licence § 95e SGB V sets minimum sums: €3 million per claim, €5 million with employed dentists.

### How much does professional liability cost for dentists?

When first setting up, from about €350 a year; established general practices usually pay €1,500 to €5,000. Oral surgeons and orthodontists who operate pay considerably more.

### Are leased treatment units insured?

The leasing company often demands its own insurance. Include leased equipment in your electronics or contents cover and check who receives the money after a loss.

### Am I covered for errors made by my in house lab?

If the lab is in the policy, yes. An in house lab that makes dental prostheses must be named expressly.

### Do I need practice downtime cover?

If the practice cannot run without you, almost always. It keeps paying costs when you are ill or the practice is idle after damage.

### Are my dental nurses insured at work?

Yes, through the BGW, the statutory accident insurer for health and welfare services, including needlestick injuries. You can insure yourself there voluntarily.

## Request quotes

We obtain quotes and come back with a comparison. Free of charge and without obligation: the insurer pays our commission. You can write in English. https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-dental-practice.php#anfrage

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NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH, insurance broker licensed under section 34d(1) of the German Trade Regulation Act, broker register no. D-C08Q-TOSD4-37. For boat and yacht insurance we act as underwriting agency, not as broker.

NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH, Karl-Marx-Straße 4, 15711 Königs Wusterhausen, +49 3375 29 12 77, info@nammert.com. Wikidata: Q141141479.