Dental emergency service (Notdienst) in Germany: extra fees outside regular office hours
In Germany, dental practices may charge additional fees when treatment is provided outside regular opening hours (Notdienst). These fees vary depending on the time and the type of treatment. Here is what you need to know:
Weekdays: from 18:00 until 08:00 the next morning
Weekends: the whole of Saturday and Sunday
Public holidays: the entire day
This period is referred to as the “Zahnärztlicher Notdienst” (dental emergency service).
| Type of fee | Approximate amount | Who pays? |
|---|---|---|
| Notdienstpauschale (fixed emergency fee) | around €50–100 | usually paid by the patient |
| Treatment costs (actual dental work) | depends on the procedure (filling, extraction, etc.) | Statutory insurance (GKV) covers only what is medically necessary |
| Surcharges (night/weekend/holiday) | percentage surcharge (often 20–50% of the treatment value) | generally paid by the patient if not covered by GKV |
GKV typically covers only medically necessary emergency treatment, for example in cases of:
severe toothache
abscess or significant swelling
broken or fractured tooth
However:
Night-time or out-of-hours surcharges are not always covered in full.
Private health insurance (PKV) often reimburses all charges, depending on the individual policy.
You visit a dentist on a Saturday evening because of sudden tooth pain and the tooth is extracted. The invoice might look like this:
| Item | Approximate price |
|---|---|
| Emergency service fee | about €80 |
| Tooth extraction | about €50–100 |
| Night/holiday surcharge | about €20–40 |
| Total | about €150–200 |
→ GKV may reimburse only the extraction, while you have to pay most or all of the emergency fee and surcharges yourself.
Ask the dentist before treatment about the expected costs.
Keep the invoice so you can submit it later to your health insurer or supplementary insurance, if applicable.
Check the Kassenzahnärztlicher Notdienst in your region (e.g. via www.kzv.de) to find out which practices are currently on emergency duty.
Our editorial team aims to provide accurate information based on careful research and multiple sources. Nevertheless, errors may occur or details may be incomplete or change over time. Please regard the information in this article as an initial guide and always contact dentists, health insurers or the relevant authorities for binding, up-to-date advice.
