Dental Insurance Plans

Dental Health Insurance: Coverage Abroad

For expats, digital nomads, and globally mobile people, dental insurance is highly important, as it helps cover the often high costs of routine and emergency dental treatments, which might not be fully covered by standard health insurance or employer-provided plans.

Having dental insurance ensures access to quality private dental care, making it easier to maintain good oral health through preventative checkups and necessary restorative treatments. Without dental insurance, expats may have to pay significant out-of-pocket expenses.

Since dental health plays a vital role in overall well-being, securing coverage abroad supports both your health and peace of mind. Check out our quote comparison tool to find the right international dental coverage today.

Recommended Dental Health Insurance Plans for Expatriates

Dental Plans

Private dental insurance often categorizes dental procedures into three main types: routine or preventative dental care, basic restorative dental care, and major dental treatment. Depending on the plan tier and insurer, each category may receive different types of coverage.

Routine Dental Treatment

Routine dental care refers to general dentistry, which focuses on regular dental visits, usually once or twice a year, to monitor and maintain your overall oral health. It covers a wide range of everyday treatments, including:

Checkups, consultations, and examinations
Teeth cleaning, scaling, and polishing
X-rays
Fluoride treatment
Dental sealants

Basic Dental Treatment

Basic dental treatment is more extensive than routine care but generally covers basic restorative services, including:

Root canals
Simple fillings
Extractions
Gum disease treatments
Emergency care for pain relief

Major Dental Treatment

Major dental treatment refers to dental services that involve lengthy, complex procedures, which may require anesthesia or surgery, or include orthodontic procedures. The following services are typically considered major dental treatments:

Dental implants and dentures
Bridgework and repairs
Temporary crowns, porcelain crowns, and gold jackets
Periodontitis treatment
Orthodontic procedures (e.g., dental braces, Invisalign, palatal expanders, etc.)

Waiting Period

Most insurance companies require a waiting period, typically 10–12 months, before you can make claims for dental treatments. This is designed to prevent people from taking out coverage only to claim for treatments they already know they need right away.

The exact duration depends on the insurer, so it’s important to check the specific conditions of your policy.

Pre-Existing Dental Condition

Insurers may apply waiting periods, exclude certain treatments, or only cover new dental problems that arise after the policy begins. Examples of pre-existing dental conditions include missing teeth, prior fillings, and gum disease.

Each insurer sets its own rules, making it important to review your policy details carefully. Contact us directly for more details regarding dental insurance plans.

Start by Comparing Insurance Plans Online

Compare Between 50,000 International Health Insurance Plan Options.

Compare Now

Top Insurance Providers for Dental Care Abroad

Top international insurers such as Bupa Global, Allianz, Cigna Global, IMG Global, and William Russell offer excellent dental coverage. Depending on the provider, dental benefits may be included in premium plans or added as flexible riders, allowing you to choose the option that best fits your needs.

Bupa Global Dental Insurance

Bupa Global offers high-quality dental coverage included in its Premier and Elite international health plans. Benefits cover preventive, accidental, routine, major restorative, and orthodontic treatments, providing members with complete protection for all types of dental care.

Maximum coverage ranges from USD $1,700 to paying in full, depending on the selected plan and type of procedures.

Bupa Global Dental Insurance Benefits (USD)
Dental Treatment	Premier	Elite
Preventive Treatment (6-month waiting period)	Paid in full (2 visits each policy year)	Paid in full (2 visits each policy year)
Accident-Related Dental treatment	Up to $1,700	Up to $4,200
Routine Dental (6-month waiting period)
Major Restorative (6-month waiting period)
Orthodontics (12-month waiting period)	Not covered

Allianz Dental Insurance

Allianz values flexibility by offering dental coverage as an optional add-on to its Allianz Care international health insurance plans. Depending on your core plan, you can choose between two levels:

Smile: for Care Plus and Care, with coverage up to USD $2,770
Smile Plus: for Care Pro, with no limit.

Both options cover dental treatment, surgery, periodontics, orthodontics, and dental prostheses, ensuring comprehensive protection tailored to your needs.

Allianz Dental Insurance Benefits (USD)
Dental Treatment	Smile (Care, Care Plus)	Smile Plus (Care Pro)
Maximum Annual Limit	$2,770	No limit
Dental Treatment	80% refund	100% refund
Dental Surgery	80% refund	100% refund
Periodontics	80% refund	100% refund
Orthodontic Treatment (10-month waiting period)	50% refund	65% refund Up to $6,750
Dental Prostheses (10-month waiting period)	50% refund	65% refund Up to $6,750

Cigna Global Dental Insurance

Cigna Global offers dental coverage as an optional add-on to its Silver, Gold, and Platinum international health insurance plans. Depending on the tier you choose, benefit limits range from USD $1,250 to USD $5,500, covering preventive, routine, major restorative, and orthodontic treatments.

Cigna Global Dental Insurance Benefits (USD)
Dental Treatment	Silver	Gold	Platinum
Maximum Annual Limit	$1,250	$2,500	$5,500
Preventative (3-month waiting period)	Paid in full	Paid in full	Paid in full
Routine (3-month waiting period)	80% refund	90% refund	Paid in full
Major Restorative (12-month waiting period)	70% refund	80% refund	Paid in full
Orthodontic Treatment (18-month waiting period, available up to 18 years old)	40% refund	50% refund	50% refund

IMG Global Dental Insurance

IMG Global provides excellent dental coverage through its Global Medical international health insurance plans. Dental benefits come included in the Platinum tier, while Bronze, Silver, and Gold members can add dental as an optional rider.

The coverage offers flexibility and value, providing up to USD$750 each period with a USD$50 deductible, covering 90% of routine services (no deductible), 70% of minor treatments, and 50% of major treatments.

IMG Global Dental Insurance (USD)
Dental Treatment	Bronze	Silver	Gold	Platinum
Coverage	Optional add-on	Optional add-on	Optional add-on	Included
Maximum Annual Limit	$750 per period of coverage	$750 per period of coverage	$750 per period of coverage	$750 per period of coverage
Routine (deductible waived)	90%	90%	90%	90%
Minor Restorative	70%	70%	70%	70%
Major Restorative	50%	50%	50%	50%

William Russell Dental Insurance

All William Russell international health insurance plans—Bronze, SilverLite, Silver, and Gold—include some dental coverage, with benefits varying by tier. Bronze offers only limited dental cover, while the Gold plan goes further by including emergency, routine, and restorative care.

For members seeking more extensive protection, William Russell also offers optional add-ons:

Dental Basic: Covers essentials like screenings, fillings, extractions, and root canals
Dental Plus: Extends coverage to dentures, bridges, crowns, implants, and more

This tiered approach gives members the flexibility to tailor their dental benefits to their specific needs.

William Russell Dental Insurance (USD)
Dental Treatment	Bronze	SilverLite	Silver	Gold
Emergency Restorative Treatment Received as an Inpatient	Fully covered	Fully covered	Fully covered	Fully covered
Emergency Restorative Treatment Received as an Outpatient	N/A	N/A	Up to $500	Up to $1,000
Routine Dental Care (6-month waiting period)	N/A	Optional (Up to $500 with 20% coinsurance)	Optional (Up to $1,000 with 20% coinsurance)	Up to $1,500
Complex Dental Care (10-month waiting period)	N/A	N/A	Optional (Up to $1,000 with 20% coinsurance)	Optional (Up to $1,000 with 20% coinsurance)

Why Expats Should Add Dental Cover to Their Health Insurance Plans

While many expats already have international health coverage in place, dental benefits aren’t always automatically included, and skipping them can leave a costly gap in your protection. Adding dental benefits to your plan ensures you have access to quality care without high out-of-pocket fees.

Key reasons to include dental cover:

Preventive care access: Regular cleanings, exams, and screenings help prevent bigger and costlier emergency dental issues.

Rising cost of dental care: As dental treatment costs climb alongside overall healthcare expenses, having dental insurance protects you from unexpected financial strain.

Comprehensive health support: Oral health is closely connected to overall well-being. Including dental cover ensures you are well-protected.

Access to advanced treatments: Insurance helps make expensive, modern procedures (like implants, orthodontics, or restorative dentistry) more affordable.
Global consistency of care: For expats, having dental cover ensures consistent access to reliable, high-quality care regardless of where they are.

What to Consider When Choosing Dental Plans

When selecting a dental insurance plan abroad, consider coverage scope, area of coverage, waiting periods, exclusions, budget, and your personal oral health needs to ensure optimal protection and convenience.

Coverage Scope: Review what treatments are included and how much is covered for each. Since insurers may categorize procedures differently, always check the policy details carefully before purchasing to avoid surprises.
Area of Coverage: Your dental coverage should align with the area of coverage chosen for your core international health plan (e.g., worldwide or worldwide excluding the US).
Waiting Periods: Many plans impose a waiting period (e.g., 6–12 months) before you can claim for certain dental treatments like orthodontics or major restorative care.
Exclusions: Some insurers exclude pre-existing dental issues, cosmetic procedures, or certain advanced treatments.
Budget: Balance the premium you pay with the benefits offered. Sometimes opting for partial co-insurance reduces costs without sacrificing too much coverage.
Personal oral health needs: Consider your dental history and future needs—if you’ve had frequent dental issues or anticipate orthodontics, implants, or crowns, a more comprehensive plan is worth the higher premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do dental insurance plans cover both preventive and major treatments?

Most international dental insurance plans provide coverage across preventive, basic, and major treatments, though the extent of benefits depends on the insurer and chosen plan. Many insurers also offer flexible options, allowing you to tailor coverage to suit your healthcare needs and budget.

Can I use my dental insurance abroad?

Local dental insurance plans generally cover treatment where the policy was purchased only. However, if you have an international health insurance plan with dental benefits, you may be able to access dental care abroad. Check policy details to confirm whether overseas dental treatment is included.

How do copayments and deductibles work in dental insurance?

Most dental insurance plans include a deductible or a copayment. Many policies will cover around 80% of treatment costs, leaving you to pay the remaining 20%. This cost-sharing helps reduce the overall premium, since you contribute toward the cost of care rather than the insurer covering everything.

How do I know which dental insurance plan is right for me?

The right plan depends on your needs and budget. Consider factors like coverage for preventive and major treatments, waiting periods, pre-existing condition rules, and whether you can choose your dentist. Comparing plans or getting expert advice from insurance brokers can help you find the best fit.