Professional teeth cleaning: Costs, procedure & when supplementary dental insurance is worthwhile

Professional teeth cleaning (PZR) is one of the most important preventive measures for healthy teeth – but the costs are not usually covered by statutory health insurance. What does a PZR really cost, what are the annual costs and when is supplementary dental insurance worthwhile? New from us: Your comparison portal on dental insurance One. But what is it all about? Why is it important?

What does professional teeth cleaning cost?

Beautiful teeth! The cost of a PZR varies depending on the practice, complexity and region. On average, patients should expect the following prices:

• Simple PZR: 50 to 80 euros
• Comprehensive PZR (with airflow, polishing, sealing): 80 to 150 euros
• Initial treatment (lots of tartar, risk of periodontitis): up to 200 euros

Dental cleaning is recommended at least once, preferably twice a year. Two appointments cost between 100 and 300 euros per year – depending on the practice and the condition of the teeth.

What does the GKV pay?

Statutory health insurance (GKV for short) does not generally cover periodontal cleaning as a standard service. There are only exceptions in the case of medically necessary periodontitis treatment (PAR treatment according to findings). A purely preventive prophylactic cleaning is a so-called individual health service (IGeL) – the patient pays for it themselves.

When is supplementary dental insurance worthwhile?

Supplementary dental insurance usually reimburses 80-100 percent of the cost of a dental cleaning. With two PZR appointments per year and an insurance premium starting at 10 euros per month, the policy pays for itself through prophylaxis alone – not to mention dentures, crowns and orthodontics.

If you would like to compare the costs and reimbursement of professional teeth cleaning in detail, you can find a detailed guide on zahnzusatzversicherung.one – including an overview of which tariffs reimburse 100% of PZR and do not require a waiting period.

PZR procedure: What happens during cleaning?

A typical PZR takes 45 to 75 minutes and comprises several steps:

1. Diagnostic findings: periodontal status, gum depths, bleeding index
2. Removal of tartar and plaque: With ultrasound and hand instruments
3. Polish: removal of discoloration (coffee, tea, nicotine)
4. Airflow (optional): Powder jet device for stubborn deposits
5. Fluoridation: Hardening of the tooth surface, protection against caries
6. Nutritional advice: tips for dental care at home

PZR and supplementary dental insurance

Here are the most important points in brief:

• GKV does not pay for PZR – except for medically necessary PAR treatment
• Average costs: 60-120 euros per appointment, 1-2× per year recommended
• Good supplementary dental insurances reimburse 80-100 % of the PZR costs
• Tariffs without a waiting period are particularly attractive for immediate protection
• Annual premium often lower than the PZR costs saved

Conclusion: If you regularly have your teeth professionally cleaned, you should not bear the costs alone. Good supplementary dental insurance already pays for itself with the professional dental cleaning – the cover for dentures and orthodontics comes on top.

Speaking of which, this is how the stars do it

Perfect teeth? They don’t always come from professional teeth cleaning. Especially those who are often in front of the camera rely on so-called veneers. We ventured behind the scenes and gained an insight into a practice where celebrities usually have their teeth treated.

• Veneers

Straight teeth? There is a solution for this too, for example:

• Invisalign