Professional teeth cleaning in Germany: costs, procedure and insurance

PZR is part of a prophylaxis programme in the dental practice. It is usually carried out by specially trained staff, for example a dental prophylaxis assistant or a dental hygienist. It goes further than the tartar removal that statutory health insurance pays once a year: it also removes soft plaque and discolouration, including in areas that are hard to reach.

PZR supports daily oral care at home but does not replace it. Brushing at least twice a day and cleaning between the teeth remain the basis.

• Advice on oral hygiene at home: brushing technique, aids for cleaning between the teeth, suitable products, diet tips.
• Removal of tartar and plaque with hand instruments or sonic/ultrasonic devices; powder-water jet devices are used in some practices.
• Removal of discolouration and polishing/smoothing of the tooth surfaces.
• Finally, fluoridation with a gel or varnish.

The exact procedure differs between practices. Ask in advance what your appointment includes.

According to the KZBV, the main benefit is medical, not cosmetic: plaque that stays in hard-to-reach places for a long time can cause tooth decay, bleeding gums and periodontitis. The KZBV refers to long-term studies from Sweden in which prophylaxis programmes with PZR at their core largely prevented decay and periodontitis in most participants — provided frequency and intensity matched the individual risk.

This is the assessment of a professional body, not a guarantee. How much an individual benefits depends on their personal risk and their care at home. PZR does not guarantee that decay or gum disease will not develop, and it does not cure existing disease.

The KZBV states that once or twice a year is often enough, and that shorter intervals can make sense with a high risk of decay or periodontitis. The dentist can assess this risk; it can change over time. There is therefore no fixed interval that suits everyone — agree on it with your practice.

The practice bills PZR as a private service according to time and difficulty. The KZBV gives about €80 to €120 for average effort (as of May 2025). Heavy deposits or a lot of tartar can make it more expensive. This is a guide value from one source, not a nationwide price list: your practice's price may differ. Ask for a cost estimate in advance.

• Statutory health insurance (GKV): PZR is not part of the regular statutory benefits in Germany. The GKV pays tartar removal once a year.
• Voluntary subsidy: some health insurers reimburse PZR fully or in part as a voluntary extra benefit. Amount and conditions differ by insurer — ask yours.
• Supplementary dental insurance: depending on the tariff, it pays part or all of the cost, usually with limits. Example (provider information): in the DFV ZahnSchutz Exklusiv 100 tariff (version 01.08.2025) prophylaxis such as PZR is reimbursed at 100%, but at most €200 per calendar year — shared with bleaching. Other tariffs have different amounts, frequencies or no PZR cover at all.

A supplementary tariff therefore does not automatically cover every cleaning in full. Check the annual amount, any frequency limits and whether PZR shares a budget with other benefits.