Are dental implants covered under Regelversorgung?

Implants are not considered Regelversorgung. GKV pays only the Festzuschuss equivalent to a bridge (the standard care alternative). The implant itself (artificial root + surgery) is paid out of pocket — typically €2,000-3,000+. Dental insurance can cover 50-90% of this.

Can I choose non-Regelversorgung treatment?

Yes — you always have the right to choose. Your dentist will present the options in the Heil- und Kostenplan . You'll see the Regelversorgung option, the upgrade options, and the cost difference for each. GKV's Festzuschuss stays the same regardless of your choice.

What is standard care at the dentist? Regelversorgung explained

When it comes to dental work in Germany, you'll hear one word come up again and again: Regelversorgung.

It translates to "standard care" — and it determines how much your public health insurance (GKV) will pay for tooth replacement treatments like crowns, bridges, and dentures.

Understanding Regelversorgung is essential because the difference between choosing standard care and opting for a higher-quality alternative can mean hundreds of euros out of your pocket.

We've already written about the full range of dental treatments covered by public insurance. This article zooms in on Regelversorgung specifically — what it covers, what it doesn't, and how to minimize your costs.

What is Regelversorgung?

Regelversorgung is the cheapest, medically adequate treatment option for a given dental condition, as defined by the Federal Joint Committee (Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss / G-BA).

It's the baseline that your public insurer uses to calculate its Festzuschuss (fixed subsidy). GKV doesn't pay a percentage of whatever treatment you choose — it pays a fixed amount based on what the Regelversorgung option would cost.

This means:

If you choose the standard care option, GKV covers a large portion
If you choose a more expensive option (e.g., ceramic instead of metal), GKV still pays the same fixed amount — you cover the rest

How much does GKV pay? The Festzuschuss and Bonusheft

GKV's contribution toward Regelversorgung depends on your Bonusheft — a dental bonus booklet that tracks your annual check-ups:

Bonusheft record	GKV Festzuschuss (% of Regelversorgung cost)
No regular check-ups (or fewer than 5 years)	60%
5 consecutive years of annual check-ups	70%
10 consecutive years of annual check-ups	75%

Start your Bonusheft immediately when you arrive in Germany. Visit the dentist at least once per year and get it stamped. After 5 years, you'll save significantly on any prosthetic work. After 10 years, you reach the maximum 75%.

Learn more about the Bonusprogramm and dental check-ups.

Regelversorgung by treatment type

Here's what counts as standard care for the most common dental procedures:

Treatment	Regelversorgung (standard care)	Not Regelversorgung (upgrade)
Crowns	Full or partial metal crown (non-precious metal)	Ceramic, porcelain, or gold crowns
Bridges	Full or partial metal bridge	Ceramic or zirconia bridges
Dentures	Partial or full dentures (plastic or metal base)	Precision-attachment dentures, telescopic dentures
Implants	Not covered as standard care. GKV pays the Festzuschuss equivalent to a bridge, not the implant itself.	The implant (artificial root) is paid out of pocket; GKV only subsidizes the crown/bridge attached to it
Fillings	Basic composite filling (since the 2025 EU amalgam ban, GKV covers medically adequate composite alternatives)	Premium aesthetic composites — you pay the top-up
Professional cleaning	Not Regelversorgung (only partially subsidized)	Full cost typically €80-200

How the numbers work: A real example

Let's say you need a crown on a back tooth. Here's how costs differ depending on whether you choose Regelversorgung or an upgrade:

Option A: Regelversorgung (metal crown)

	Amount
Treatment cost	~€350
GKV Festzuschuss (60%, no Bonusheft)	-€210
You pay	~€140
With 10-year Bonusheft (75%)	~€88

Option B: Ceramic crown (not Regelversorgung)

	Amount
Treatment cost	~€550
GKV Festzuschuss (same fixed amount as Option A)	-€210
You pay	~€340
With 10-year Bonusheft (75% of Regelversorgung cost)	~€288

The GKV pays the same Festzuschuss regardless of which option you choose — the difference comes entirely out of your pocket.

Note: These costs are approximate examples. Actual amounts vary by dentist, region, and material.

The Heil- und Kostenplan: What happens before treatment

Before any Zahnersatz (tooth replacement) procedure, your dentist must create a Heil- und Kostenplan (HKP) — a detailed treatment and cost plan.

Here's the process:

Your dentist examines you and recommends treatment
The dentist creates the HKP showing the planned procedure, Regelversorgung option, and costs
You submit the HKP to your GKV insurer for approval (usually takes 1-2 weeks)
Your insurer confirms the Festzuschuss amount
You proceed with treatment

Important: Always submit the HKP before starting treatment. If you skip this step, your insurer may refuse to pay.

Härtefallregelung: 100% coverage for low-income patients

If your income is below certain thresholds, you may qualify for the Härtefallregelung (hardship rule), which means GKV covers 100% of the Regelversorgung cost — you pay nothing.

2026 income thresholds (gross monthly):

Household	Monthly limit
Single person	€1,582
Two-person household	€2,175
Each additional member	+€396

You also automatically qualify if you receive Burgergeld, Sozialhilfe, BAfoG, or Grundsicherung.

Even if you slightly exceed these limits, you may qualify for a partial hardship exemption (gleitende Härtefallregelung) — ask your insurer.

Don't go to a German dentist without watching this

Watch our breakdown of how dental care actually works here — what public health insurance pays for, what it doesn't, what major procedures cost out of pocket, and how to keep your bills down.

How dental insurance helps with Regelversorgung

Dental insurance (Zahnzusatzversicherung) significantly reduces your out-of-pocket costs — for both standard care and upgrades.

Here's how it works with our previous crown example:

Regelversorgung (metal crown, ~€350)

	Without dental insurance	With dental insurance
GKV Festzuschuss (60%)	€210	€210
Dental insurance (100% of remainder)	—	€140
You pay	€140	€0

Ceramic crown (~€550, not Regelversorgung)

	Without dental insurance	With dental insurance
GKV Festzuschuss (60%)	€210	€210
Dental insurance (90% of remainder)	—	€306
You pay	€340	€34

Dental insurance makes the biggest difference for non-Regelversorgung treatments — where out-of-pocket costs are highest. Find the right plan in our guide to the best dental insurance in Germany.

Is it worth the monthly premium? We break it down in Is dental insurance worth it in 2026?

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Frequently asked questions

Before any major dental treatment in Germany, your dentist must provide you with a Heil- und Kostenplan (treatment and cost plan).

This document outlines the proposed treatment, the Regelversorgung option, any upgrades you're choosing, and the estimated costs broken down by what your public insurer will cover versus your out-of-pocket share.

You must submit this plan to your public health insurer (Krankenkasse) for approval before treatment begins, which typically takes 2-4 weeks.

Keep this document as you'll also need it to claim reimbursement from private dental insurance if you have it.

The Bonusheft is a bonus booklet that tracks your regular dental check-ups and can increase your public health insurance coverage for tooth replacement from 60% to up to 75%.

You receive stamps in your Bonusheft each time you attend your annual dental check-up, and after 5 consecutive years of check-ups, your coverage increases to 70%; after 10 years, it rises to 75%.

Adults need one check-up per year, while children and teenagers under 18 need two check-ups per year to qualify.

If you're new to Germany, ask your dentist for a Bonusheft at your first appointment and bring it to every dental visit.

Most private dental insurance policies in Germany include an 8-month waiting period for major treatments such as crowns, bridges, and dentures.

During the waiting period, you're typically covered for preventive care like cleanings and check-ups, but claims for expensive procedures may be denied or capped at a low amount.

Some insurers offer policies without waiting periods, but these usually come with higher monthly premiums or lower overall coverage limits.

If you're expecting to need dental work soon, compare policies carefully and check whether any pre-existing conditions or ongoing treatments are excluded.

Yes, ceramic veneering on front teeth is partially covered under Regelversorgung because visible metal would be aesthetically unacceptable in the smile zone.

For the upper front six teeth and lower front four teeth, public insurance covers metal crowns with a tooth-colored ceramic facing on the visible side.

However, full ceramic crowns (which have no metal base) are still considered an upgrade and require you to pay the difference between the Regelversorgung amount and the full cost.

If you want a completely metal-free crown even on front teeth, expect to pay approximately €150-300 extra out of pocket.

Basic dental insurance in Germany typically costs between €8 and €25 per month, depending on your age, coverage level, and the insurer.

Premiums increase with age at sign-up, so getting coverage in your 20s or 30s locks in lower rates than waiting until your 40s or 50s. Higher-tier plans with coverage for implants and orthodontics, and 100% reimbursement for premium materials, can cost €30-50 per month or more.

When comparing plans, look beyond the monthly premium and check the annual coverage limits, waiting periods, and what percentage of non-Regelversorgung treatments are covered.