Supplementary dental insurance for plastic fillings: Top 10 tariffs in comparison & test
A tooth filling is necessary if a tooth is damaged by caries, heavy wear or an accident. Different materials are available to the dentist for the filling. Fillings made of amalgam or special plastics are most commonly used for minor tooth damage. Although amalgam has long been criticized for its mercury content and its potentially harmful effects, it is still the only solution that is entirely borne by the health insurance company. Plastic fillings, on the other hand, are tooth-colored, reach the durability of an amalgam filling and are better tolerated. However, they are only covered by the health insurance for the anterior region. In all other cases, the patient must pay the difference to the amalgam filling himself. Most private dental insurance, however, also bear the cost of a plastic filling.
Table of Contents
Dental supplementary insurance for fillings – the top 3 tariffs
The following table shows the 3 best dental supplements for fillings. They primarily secure dental treatment measures, such as the restoration of carious teeth with fillings, and have focused on this. The individual columns show the level of reimbursement for the supply of fillings per tariff as well as the monthly contribution for a person to be insured who is 30 years old.
| collective name | Refund fillings | waiting period | Monthly contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| DKV KDBE | 100% | 8 months | € 9.84 |
| Barmenia Prophy | 100% | 8 months | € 9.90 |
| ERGO Direct ZBB + ZBE | 100% | no waiting time | € 12.80 |
In addition to the coverage shown above, all three tariffs include a complete coverage of the dental treatment measures segment. This includes periodontal and root treatments, root tip resections, root length measurements and mucosal transplants. A reimbursement rate of 100 percent applies to all of them.
In addition, all tariffs ensure a prophylaxis / teeth cleaning service that varies considerably. In the following, the tariffs are linked individually, since all information can be traced in detail on the respective tariff detail pages:
The top 5 premium tariffs including fillings
In the following figure, we have summarized the best 5 premium dental supplement insurance, which among other things ensure very good benefits for fillings. The services of these tariffs are to be understood as comprehensive all-round protection, especially the very expensive visits to the dentist regarding dental prosthesis measures or the like. secured with very high reimbursement rates. All 5 tariffs provide for 100% assumption of the costs for the supply of fillings. The individual columns in the table show the general reimbursement level for each tariff, the overall grade achieved in the test and the monthly contribution for a 30-year-old person to be insured.
| collective name | Gen. reimbursement level | final grade | Monthly contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exclusive German family insurance | 100% | 1.0 very good | € 24.00 |
| The Bavarian ZAHN Prestige | 100% | 1.0 very good | € 25.00 |
| Munich Association 571 + 572 + 573 + 574 | 90-100% | 1.0 very good | € 24.32 |
| ERGO Direct Premium | 90-100% | 1.0 very good | € 21.20 |
| Württemberg ZE90 + ZBE | 90-100% | 1.1 very good | € 34.37 |
For all 5 tariffs, there is no waiting time for all secured service segments. The general reimbursement level shown relates to the service segments prophylaxis / tooth cleaning, dental treatment and dentures. In some cases, individual tariffs also secure services for the orthodontic care of children. All details on the covered benefits can be found on the respective tariff detail pages. These can be reached by clicking on the tariff names linked below:
What exactly is a "plastic filling"?
If the dentist finds tooth decay in a tooth, he carefully drills out this area, then cleans and disinfects it. The resulting hole is now sealed with a filling to protect the rest of the tooth.
Special plastics are often used as the material for the filling. On closer inspection, however, it is a mixture of plastic and the smallest glass or quartz particles, which give the material the necessary strength. For this reason, composite fillings are often spoken of.
They are easily deformable and can be modeled directly on the tooth by the dentist. They cure in the mouth only with UV light and then withstand even the heavy stress of chewing.
Plastic fillings and an overview of the alternatives
In the case of dental fillings, the material used determines the durability and compatibility.
Fillings made of amalgam or plastics are usually used for smaller defects. Although amalgam is somewhat easier to process and more durable than plastic fillings, it has fallen into disrepute due to its possible health effects and is rarely used today. Composite fillings made of plastic, on the other hand, are better tolerated and, due to their tooth-like color, hardly recognizable between healthy teeth. Nevertheless, the health insurance only pays the costs of composite fillings in the anterior region. In the posterior region, the patient has to pay the difference himself. Both materials (plastic and amalgam fillings) have a limited shelf life of 4 to 10 years.
So-called inlays represent a more durable alternative, which is used above all for larger tooth damage. These inlay fillings made of ceramic or gold are custom-made in a dental laboratory and then used by the dentist. Inlays involve a lot of treatment and costs, but in many cases they last a lifetime.
The plastic filling in detail
In the following, the characteristics of 9 characteristics for the plastic filling are shown in Table 3. It contains the results for the advantages, the disadvantages, the durability, the aesthetics, the functionality, the total costs for a tooth (costs), the fixed subsidy from the statutory health insurance (GKV fixed subsidy), the deductible without supplementary dental insurance (SB without ZZV). as well as the excess with a premium dental supplement insurance (SB with ZZV) visualized.
| characteristics | Result |
|---|---|
| benefits | Tooth shades, high biological compatibility, repairs and repairs possible, quick treatment |
| disadvantage | Short shelf life, risk of caries due to shrinkage of the filling and gap formation |
| durability | 4 to 8 years |
| aesthetics | Good results |
| functionality | Good results |
| costs | € 100-120 |
| SHI fixed subsidy | 20-40 € (posterior) and 100-120 € (front tooth) |
| SB without ZZV | Posterior tooth: 80 € u. Anterior tooth: 0 € |
| SB without ZZV | € 0 (grant € 80) |
As Table 3 shows, the advantages of such a filling are the very short treatment and the biological compatibility. The cost of such carious tooth care is also manageable. In the following, further treatment options are checked using the same criteria.
The amalgam filling in detail
The following Table 4 analyzes the previously defined features for restoring a carious tooth with an amalgam filling.
| characteristic | Result |
|---|---|
| benefits | No additional costs, a little longer lasting than plastic fillings |
| disadvantage | Not tooth-colored, possibly harmful to health, must be replaced as a whole |
| durability | About 10 years |
| aesthetics | Bad results, only posterior teeth |
| functionality | Mostly good results |
| costs | € 20-40 |
| SHI fixed subsidy | € 20-40 |
| SB without ZZV | 0 € |
| SB with ZZV | 0 € |
As can be seen in the table, the advantages of an amalgam filling are the comparatively high durability and the lack of financial burden on the patient. The costs of such treatment are covered entirely by the GKV’s fixed-cost subsidy, since it is the most economically advantageous form of care.
The ceramic inlay in detail
The Kermaikinlay is a very high-quality form of restoration and is usually chosen for larger tooth defects. It is made to measure in the laboratory and then used by the dentist to fill the hole. Table 5 below examines the known features and presents them graphically.
| characteristic | Result |
|---|---|
| benefits | Long shelf life, tooth-colored, high biological compatibility |
| disadvantage | High costs, high treatment costs, tooth is ground |
| durability | About 15 years |
| aesthetics | Very good results |
| functionality | Very good results |
| costs | € 600 |
| SHI fixed subsidy | € 20-40 |
| SB without ZZV | approx. € 560 |
| SB with ZZV | 60 € (allowance including SHI = 540 €) |
As shown, the ceramic inlay is particularly convincing due to its very long shelf life, high biological compatibility (antiallergenic) and very good results in terms of aesthetics and functionality.
The gold inlay in detail
Finally, Table 6 is now devoted to an inlay made of gold. The gold inlay is also analyzed based on the previously determined characteristics and the results are shown in column 2 of the table.
| characteristic | Result |
|---|---|
| benefits | Long shelf life, high biological compatibility, very precise fit, low risk of caries |
| disadvantage | Not tooth-colored, not for anterior teeth, high material costs, tooth is ground |
| durability | Longer than 15 years |
| aesthetics | Bad results, only posterior teeth |
| functionality | Very good results |
| costs | € 800 |
| SHI fixed subsidy | € 20-40 |
| SB without ZZV | approx. € 760 |
| SB with ZZV | 80 € (allowance including SHI = 720 €) |
The greatest advantages of a gold inlay are its particularly high durability. The high level of biocompatibility and the low risk of caries also place this special filling in the top group of all options examined. On the other hand, the disadvantages are clearly the aesthetics, which, due to the color difference, only makes it recommendable for the treatment of posterior teeth.
What should a good tariff for plastic fillings include??
A single plastic filling usually does not justify private dental insurance because of its relatively low cost. When choosing a tariff, however, it should be ensured that they are included in the range of services. A comparison is worthwhile to find the tariff with the best possible performance. The following aspects should be considered when searching:
- Reimbursement share of costs: Most tariffs provide for a 80 to 90 percent reimbursement of dentist costs. For dental treatments, many providers even reimburse 100 percent of the costs incurred.
- Reimbursement limits: Many insurance companies set benefit limits for reimbursable invoice amounts in the first 4 to 5 years (sum cap). While these amounts are irrelevant for plastic fillings, a total limit of at least 3,000 to 4,000 euros in the first 4 years should be taken into account with regard to any further supply (inlays, crowns) that may be required.
- Waiting period: For many tariffs, there is a waiting period of 8 months after the contract has been concluded, during which no insurance benefits have yet been paid. However, there are providers who do not have to wait and do it from the first day.
- Dental prophylaxis: Caries is the most common reason for filling. Accordingly, careful dental care is worthwhile so that filling is not even necessary. Many tariffs include, for example, the assumption of costs for professional dental cleaning every six months.
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