Dental Fillings, Root and Periodontal Treatment

Dental treatments are divided into caries treatment, periodontal treatment, and root treatment. On this page, we introduce the different dental treatments and the various dental fillings available.

If your dentist discovers caries during your dental treatment, they will remove the decayed tooth material, preserving as much healthy tooth structure as possible. The missing substance is then replaced with a filling. There are various materials available for fillings. You can find more information about these materials in the following section.

Cost coverage for dental fillings at a glance

There are many different materials for dental fillings, each with its own properties. Your dentist will be happy to advise you on which material is most suitable for your tooth.

Depending on the material, costs may arise. The amount of these costs depends on the material chosen and the size of the filling. Your dentist will inform you of your co-payment for the chosen filling before the treatment. For example, if you opt for a composite filling for a back tooth in a tooth color, the price will be about twice as high as for a standard plastic filling. Depending on the size and complexity of the filling, costs of at least €40 per filling may be incurred.

If you choose a filling that involves a co-payment, you will receive an invoice for the co-payment after the treatment, which you will need to pay directly. The portion covered by us will be billed directly to SBK via your SBK healthcare card by the dental practice.

The most well-known filling material has certainly been amalgam. However, its use has declined significantly in recent years. As of January 1, 2025, the European Union’s ban on the use of dental amalgam in fillings comes into effect. The ban is due to ecological reasons. Existing amalgam fillings do not need to be replaced immediately.

Available filling materials

Dental fillings without a co-payment must be made of so-called self-adhesive materials. An exception is the front teeth up to tooth 3. These include materials such as (plastic-modified) glass ionomer cements, glass hybrids, or self-adhesive composite hybrid plastics.

A co-payment applies for fillings made from materials that are more time-consuming, such as composite fillings or inlays made of gold or ceramics. Your dentist will inform you about the different options before the treatment. In this context, you should also mention any known allergies so that your dentist can consider them when selecting the filling material.

If your dental pulp is inflamed and cannot heal on its own, your dentist will attempt to save your tooth through a root canal treatment. The diseased pulp is removed, the root canal is cleaned, and the inside of the tooth is sealed with a filling. This is often a longer treatment, as several sessions are usually required. If your root treatment is medically necessary and the tooth can be saved, your dentist will bill the costs directly to SBK via your SBK healthcare card.

Do you experience gum bleeding even with minimal pressure, such as when brushing your teeth? This could be a sign of periodontal disease (commonly known as periodontitis). The gum detaches from the teeth, creating so-called gum pockets. If your dentist recommends periodontal treatment, they will request cost coverage from us. Typically, you will receive approval for coverage within a few days of submitting the necessary documents. The scope of periodontal treatment has been significantly expanded. Services such as individualized oral hygiene instruction, diagnostic evaluation, and supportive periodontal therapy including subsequent teeth cleaning are covered under the approved periodontal treatment with SBK.

Headaches and neck muscle tension can be caused by the constant grinding or clenching of the upper and lower teeth. Additionally, this can cause significant damage to the tooth-supporting structures and chewing surfaces. Bite splints (also known as "night guards") provide protection and relief, and SBK covers the cost of these.