Dental Insurance

When moving abroad, expats often focus on hospitalization or maternity benefits — and forget about their teeth. Yet dental care is one of the most frequent and expensive out-of-pocket costs for families and individuals overseas. That’s why adding dental insurance to your international health coverage can save you thousands.

Why Dental Coverage Matters for Expats

High private care costs: A simple filling in Singapore can cost USD 150–250, while crowns or implants run into the thousands.
Preventive care isn’t cheap: Annual cleanings and check-ups are rarely subsidized for non-residents.
Employer plans are limited: Many corporate policies exclude dental or cap benefits at levels far below actual costs.
Children & families: Orthodontics, braces, and pediatric dental visits can become major financial commitments abroad.

What’s Typically Covered

Dental insurance varies widely, but common benefits include:

Routine care: Check-ups, cleanings, fluoride treatments, and X-rays.
Basic procedures: Fillings, extractions, and root canals.
Major dental work: Crowns, bridges, implants, and dentures (often with higher waiting periods).
Orthodontics: Braces or aligners for children and teens — sometimes excluded unless added as an extra.

Watch out: Most plans impose annual limits (e.g. USD 1,000–2,500) and waiting periods before major procedures are covered.

Example Scenarios

A British family in Hong Kong faced a USD 4,500 orthodontics bill for their teenager — mostly covered under their expat dental rider.
An American professional in Dubai found his employer plan capped dental at USD 500/year, forcing him to pay most of his implant costs out-of-pocket.

How ExpatFinder Helps

We compare across the full market — Allianz Care, April International, Cigna Global, Bupa Global, MSH International, and more — to highlight which insurers include dental as standard, which require add-ons, and which impose hidden caps. As brokers, we make sure you understand the real scope of coverage before committing.

Dental insurance might seem secondary, but for expats, it’s a smart investment. From routine cleanings to major procedures, coverage keeps your smile — and your budget — protected. With ExpatFinder, you’ll know exactly which plans cover what, so you can avoid nasty surprises at the dentist’s chair abroad.