Locations

Berlin

Bonn

Bremen

Düsseldorf

Frankfurt am Main

Hamburg

München

Other Locations

Treatments

Quick Access

Check up

Teeth Cleaning

Pain Treatment

Popular Treatments

Bleaching

Invisalign

Veneers

Implants

All Treatments

Magazine

Newest Articles

Bonus booklet at the dentist: Understanding and using subsidies

Dental surgery: procedure, causes, and tips for optimal wound healing

Molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH): All about chalky teeth

Bonus booklet at the dentist: Understanding and using subsidies

Content

What is the bonus booklet at the dentist?
Does the bonus booklet still exist?
How the bonus system works
Which check-ups count?
Lost bonus booklet – solutions
Where to get a bonus booklet
Retroactive entries
If the stamp is refused
Bonus booklet for children
Dental prosthesis without a bonus booklet
Subsidy calculation with the bonus booklet
Frequently asked questions about the bonus booklet
Summary
Sources and further reading

The bonus booklet is an important tool for documenting regular dental checkups. However, many patients do not know exactly how it works and what financial benefits it offers. In this article, you will learn how to use the bonus booklet correctly and thereby significantly reduce your share of the cost of dental prostheses.

What is the bonus booklet at the dentist?

The bonus booklet documents your regular dental check-ups. At each check-up appointment, you receive a stamp from your dentist once a year. If you later need dental prostheses—such as a crown, bridge, or dentures—your statutory health insurance will pay a higher subsidy, known as a fixed subsidy, if you can prove that you have had regular check-ups. The bonus booklet has been standard practice in the German healthcare system since 1989 and applies to all persons insured under statutory health insurance.

Does the bonus booklet still exist?

Yes, the bonus booklet still exists. The confusion often arises from the following factors:

Many practices now use digital documentation systems.
Some patients have misplaced their bonus booklet.
There have been changes to the subsidy regulations.

Health insurance companies accept both the traditional paper booklet and digital records.

How the bonus system works

The subsidy scale

Regular preventive care increases the health insurance company's fixed subsidy:

Without a bonus booklet: 60% of standard care
With 5 years of continuous preventive care: 70% of standard care
With 10 years of continuous preventive care: 75% of standard care

Important: The year in which treatment begins does not count towards the bonus period. For treatment in 2025, you need preventive examinations from 2020–2024 (for a 5-year bonus) or 2015–2024 (for a 10-year bonus).

Calculation example

Dental prosthesis worth €2,000

Without bonus booklet: €1,200 subsidy, €800 co-pay

At age 5: €1,400 subsidy, €600 co-pay

At age 10: €1,500 subsidy, €500 co-pay

Savings: up to €300 through regular preventative care.

👉 Schedule your preventative care appointment with Dental21 now to secure your bonus entitlements in the long term: Book an appointment online now!

These subsidies apply to standard care. Even for higher-quality care (e.g., a ceramic-white bridge instead of a metal one), the insurance company pays the increased fixed subsidy – the co-payment is reduced accordingly.

Which check-ups count?

The following preventive examinations count toward a stamp in the bonus booklet:

Adults (from 18 years): 1× annual dental check-up

Children and adolescents (6–17 years): 2× annual check-ups

Children under 6 years: Early detection examinations

Important time rule:

For children and adolescents, there must be at least 4 months between the two annual check-ups. The examinations should take place in different half-years of the calendar.

The preventive check-up includes the examination of teeth, gums, and oral mucosa.

A professional dental cleaning (PZR) is medically recommended but does not replace the preventive examination for the bonus booklet.

Lost bonus booklet – solutions

If you have lost your bonus booklet, it can be replaced:

Dental practice:

Your practice can retroactively record the examinations in a new booklet. The documentation is stored in the patient file.

When changing practices:

Previous dentists can confirm past examinations. Each dentist may only enter the examinations performed in their own practice.

If the practice has closed:

Often, a successor has taken over the patient files. Alternatively, the Kassenzahnärztliche Vereinigung (KZV) can help – treatment data are archived there.

Health insurance provider:

Preventive appointments are often also recorded by your health insurance company.

Important:

Always request your bonus booklet back when submitting it to your insurance provider and keep old booklets safely.

Where to get a bonus booklet

You can get a new bonus booklet free of charge:

At your dental practice (most practices have them available)
From your health insurance provider (branch office or online request)
Digitally via some health insurance apps

Retroactive entries

Retroactive entries are possible if the examination is documented in the patient file. Health insurance companies generally accept entries until the end of the year.

Tip: Keep your bonus booklet together with your insurance card.

If the stamp is refused

A dentist may only refuse to give a stamp in specific cases:

No preventive examination: Acute treatments or consultations only do not count
Already stamped: Only one stamp per calendar year (for adults)
Treatment-only appointments: Dental cleaning or other treatments alone are not sufficient

If a preventive examination did take place, the dentist is obliged to provide the stamp. If unclear, you can contact your health insurance provider or the KZV.

Bonus booklet for children

The bonus booklet also applies to children:

From the first tooth: Early detection examinations can be recorded
From 6 years: 2× preventive check-ups recommended per year
From 12 years: The booklet officially counts toward the future dental prosthesis subsidy

Advantage: From 12 to 18 years, 6 consecutive years can already be built up – from 18, only 4 more years are needed to reach the maximum subsidy.

Early, regular dental visits support oral health and secure long-term financial benefits.

Dental prosthesis without a bonus booklet

Without a bonus booklet, you receive 60% reimbursement of the standard treatment cost.

The remaining 40% are paid by the patient.

Example (standard care €1,000):

Without booklet: €600 subsidy, €400 copayment

With 10 years of preventive care: €750 subsidy, €250 copayment

Savings: €150 per €1,000 of dental prosthesis cost.

Subsidy calculation with the bonus booklet

The subsidy is based on the standard treatment cost (medically necessary baseline care). Even with higher-quality treatments, the insurer only covers the fixed subsidy for the standard treatment.

Calculation steps:

Determine standard treatment cost (from treatment and cost plan)
Multiply by subsidy rate: 0.6 / 0.7 / 0.75
Difference to actual cost = copayment

Example:

Standard treatment €1,500 – actual treatment €3,000

Subsidy after 10 years: €1,500 × 0.75 = €1,125

Copayment: €1,875

Frequently asked questions about the bonus booklet

Can I use the bonus booklet in any dental practice?

Yes. The bonus booklet is not tied to a specific practice. You can have it stamped at any dental practice. Changing dentists is not a problem.

What happens if I miss a year?

In principle, the bonus period restarts. An exception applies if only one year is missing within 10 years and you can provide a valid reason (e.g. severe illness, pregnancy, long stay abroad). The insurance provider may still grant the 75% subsidy at its discretion.

Does the bonus booklet count for private supplementary insurance?

That depends on the policy. Many private supplementary plans consider the bonus booklet and reward regular check-ups with higher benefits.

Can I keep the bonus booklet digitally?

Yes. Since 2022, many statutory health insurance companies offer digital bonus booklets through their online portal or app.

What if my dentist has retired?

Contact your Kassenzahnärztliche Vereinigung (KZV). Treatment data are archived and can be officially confirmed. Alternatively, your health insurance company can often provide proof.

Summary

The bonus booklet is a simple tool for documenting regular preventive check-ups. If kept up to date, it increases the insurance subsidy for dental prostheses from 60% up to 75%. After 5 consecutive years, you already receive an increased subsidy – after 10 years, you reach the maximum rate.

👉 Have you had your bonus booklet stamped this year? Book your preventive appointment at Dental21 now and secure your benefits: Book your appointment online now