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Supplemental dental insurance in Switzerland: key questions and answers

Dental treatment can be expensive, but basic insurance rarely covers the costs. This is where supplemental dental insurance comes in. Comparis answers common questions.

Alina Meister
Alina Meister

01.10.2025

A dentist checking a child’s teeth.

iStock/gpointstudio

1.What is supplemental dental insurance?
2.What costs does dental insurance cover in Switzerland?
3.How much does supplemental dental insurance cost in Switzerland?
4.Does supplemental dental insurance really make sense?
5.When should I take out supplemental dental insurance?
6.Dental insurance for children or babies: what should I keep in mind?

1. What is supplemental dental insurance?

Supplemental dental insurance pays a contribution towards dental costs that aren’t covered by compulsory basic insurance, disability insurance or accident insurance

Basic insurance only covers the cost of dental treatment in exceptional cases. These include:  

  • Serious, unavoidable diseases of the masticatory system

  • Dental problems due to serious general medical conditions (e.g. leukaemia)

  • Accidents (if the costs are not covered by accident insurance)

  • Birth defects (if the costs are not covered by disability insurance)

Basic insurance does not cover regular dental treatments such as dental hygiene, dental fillings or orthodontics (e.g. braces). These costs can be covered by supplemental insurance.

2. What costs does dental insurance cover in Switzerland?

Supplemental dental insurance pays towards some of the cost of dental treatment not covered by another type of insurance. Typical benefits include (list not exhaustive):

  • Prophylaxis and dental hygiene (e.g. professional tooth cleaning or removal of tartar)

  • Conservative dental treatments (e.g. caries or root canal treatments)

  • Tooth extractions (tooth removal)

  • Dental prostheses (e.g. crowns, bridges and dentures)

  • Orthodontics (e.g. medically necessary braces)
    Important: many supplementary insurance policies only cover the costs of braces up to a certain age or up to a certain limit.

  • Correction of misaligned teeth (e.g. aligners)

  • X-ray diagnostics

Good to know: the benefits of supplemental dental insurance in Switzerland vary significantly from one insurer to another – both in terms of the scope of the treatments covered and in terms of age limits, waiting periods and premiums. It’s therefore worth comparing.

Compare supplemental insurance now

Is supplemental dental insurance valid abroad?

Private supplemental dental insurance is usually only valid for treatment in Switzerland. Some insurers will also cover the cost of cheaper treatment in neighbouring countries. It’s best to check the coverage of costs abroad before taking out the insurance.

In the following cases, dental insurance policies usually do not cover the treatment costs (list not exhaustive):

  • During the waiting period: in the first six to 12 months after the contract is concluded (for certain benefits even up to three years), most insurers do not cover any costs.

  • Pre-existing conditions and ongoing treatments: dental problems or ongoing treatments known before the start of the contract are usually excluded.

  • Restrictions: insurance companies may exclude benefits for certain teeth or diseases. This is usually the case if you have specified corresponding risk factors in the application or the health check reveals abnormalities.

  • Lack of medical necessity: the costs of cosmetic treatments (e.g. whitening) are usually not covered – unless they are expressly insured.

  • Preventable dental damage: damage caused by poor dental hygiene or lack of prophylaxis is not always covered.

Important: some supplemental dental insurance policies also have annual limits for the costs they cover. For detailed information, carefully check the general insurance conditions.

3. How much does supplemental dental insurance cost in Switzerland?

You can take out dental insurance for children from about 10 francs per month. For adults, on the other hand, the premiums can be up to about 80 francs per month. The exact amount depends on the provider, the scope of benefits chosen and the age of the person to be insured.

Comparis tip

Some health insurers require you to take out supplemental dental insurance separately. This can be more expensive than choosing a package containing other supplemental outpatient insurance products as well. It’s therefore worth comparing.

4. Does supplemental dental insurance really make sense?

Parents should definitely consider taking out supplemental dental insurance for their children. This is because the costs of braces and corrections can quickly amount to several thousand francs. In this case, dental insurance provides a form of financial relief. 

For adults, supplemental dental insurance is only worthwhile if the expected treatment costs are higher than the insurance premiums to be paid. In principle, if you do not have any dental problems, supplemental dental insurance is usually not worthwhile.

5. When should I take out supplemental dental insurance?

You should take out supplemental dental insurance as early as possible. Health insurers will only contribute towards the cost of orthodontic treatment if the need is diagnosed after the insurance has been taken out. Some health insurers stipulate a qualifying period (waiting period), which can be anything from six months to three years.

In the case of adults, taking out a policy becomes increasingly difficult with age and as dental issues accumulate – and even then, policies often come with restrictions or rejections

As a rule, insurers require a health declaration and often also a dental certificate before you can take out supplemental dental insurance. The certificate is a document issued by the dentist that states the current condition of the teeth. If insurers discover existing damage or misalignments, you can usually no longer take out comprehensive supplementary insurance.

In other words, it is “too late” to take out supplemental dental insurance as soon as there is already dental damage, ongoing treatments, misaligned teeth or a medical recommendation for necessary dental treatments.

6. Dental insurance for children or babies: what should I keep in mind?

You should take out supplemental dental insurance for children as early as possible. Ideally, before you need a dental certificate. Please note: some insurers require a dentist’s certificate for children as young as three years old. If there’s any misalignment, the insurer may partially or completely refuse cover.

This article was first published on 07.12.2021

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