We have all had the experience of how, every once in a while, a visit to the dentist can quickly turn from a pain in the tooth … to a hole in the pocket.

World-wide, dental procedures such as getting a crown or an implant costs thousands of dollars. Meanwhile routine checkups can set the individual back by hundreds. Dental care in the UAE is no exception. It is equally expensive here to treat a toothache with a surgical procedure or get a regular cleaning and filling.

George, a Dubai resident says, “Recently I got a root canal procedure done for one of my molars. After checking around at quite a few dental clinics, I learnt that the prices here for an RCT start at AED 1,200. How much you end up paying in the end depends on a case to case to scenario and the crown options you choose.”

Nisha, a resident from Abu Dhabi adds, “My tooth extraction cost me AED 800 for just the extraction. The cost for the bridge or dental implant to replace the extracted tooth was additional.”

[Compare health insurance policies in the UAE]

[Related: Guide to health insurance | Unusual insurance products | Getting senior health insurance in the UAE]

Given the costs above, it might be wise to opt for a health insurance plan which provides dental cover for you and your family. Don’t forget, if you are a family of four – you have an approximate total of 128 teeth to take care of, on a regular basis! And that can work out to be quite expensive.

Health insurance policies that provide dental cover in the UAE:

Provider Product name Dental cover Small print
Oman insurance company Regional plus
  • Dental cover up to AED 3,000.
  • Includes routine dental check up,  lesions of the oral cavity, endo-perio surgery, scaling and filling, root canal treatment and extraction (both simple and surgical).
  • 20 percent of the fee has to be borne by the insured.
  • The list of clinics covered by this policy is available here.
  • Only available as a group policy.
Interglobal Comprehensive
  • Dental checkups up to USD 100.
  • Out-patient dental treatment up to USD 1,000.
  • This cover is up to 75 percent of the treatment fee. The rest is borne by the insured.
  • The list of clinics covered  is available on applying for the policy.
Interglobal Elite
  • Dental checkups up to USD 200.
  • Out-patient dental treatment up to USD 1,500.
  • The list of clinics covered  is available on applying for the policy.
Now Health International Excel
  • For routine checkups, the cover is up to USD 1,000.
  • For complex surgical procedures, the cover is up to USD 2,000.
  • 20 percent of the fee has to be borne by the insured.
  • Dental cover can be availed after a waiting period of nine months.
  • There is no clinics network – claims are on a reimbursement basis.
Now Health International Apex
  • For routine checkups, the cover is up to USD 1,500.
  • For complex surgical procedures, the cover is up to USD 3,000.
  • 20 percent of the fee has to be borne by the insured.
  • Dental cover can be availed after a waiting period of nine months.
  • There is no clinics network – claims are on a reimbursement basis.
Ngi All group policies can include dental cover by paying an additional premium.
  • Dental cover up to AED 3,000.
  • Includes routine dental check up and surgical treatment.
  • 20 percent of the fee has to be borne by the insured.
  • The list of clinics covered  is available on applying for the policy.
  • Only available as a group policy of minimum 10 individuals.
Orient insurance company Silver Premium and Silver Classic
  • Dental cover up to AED 3,500.
  • Includes routine dental check up and surgical treatment.
  • 20 percent of the fee has to be borne by the insured.
  • The list of clinics covered  is available on applying for the policy.
  • If you visit a clinic which is not included in the Orient Insurance network, you can claim reimbursement of up to 60 percent of the bill.
Orient insurance company Green and Silk Route
  • Dental cover up to AED 2,000.
  • Includes routine dental check up and surgical treatment.
  • 20 percent of the fee has to be borne by the insured.
  • The list of clinics covered  is available on applying for the policy.
  • If you visit a clinic which is not included in the Orient Insurance network, you can claim reimbursement of up to 60 percent of the bill.
Adnic Shifa Silver
  • Dental cover up to AED 1,500 for routine check ups.
  • Dental cover is optional, available by paying an additional premium.
  • 20 percent of the fee has to be borne by the insured.
  • The list of clinics covered by this policy is available here.
Adnic Shifa Gold
  • Dental cover up to AED 5,000 for routine check ups.
  • Dental cover up to AED 5,000 for major surgical procedures.
  • Dental cover is optional, available by paying an additional premium.
  • 20 percent of the fee has to be borne by the insured.
  • The list of clinics covered by this policy is available here.
  • You can also visit a clinic outside the network list and apply for a reimbursement.
Adnic Shifa Platinum
  • Dental cover up to AED 7,000 for routine check ups.
  • Dental cover up to AED 7,000 for major surgical procedures.
  • Dental cover is optional, available by paying an additional premium.
  • 20 percent of the fee has to be borne by the insured.
  • The list of clinics covered by this policy is available here.
  • You can also visit a clinic outside the network list and apply for a reimbursement.
Axa Health perfect 1
  • Dental cover up to AED 5,000 for routine and complex.
  • 20 percent of the fee has to be borne by the insured.
  • Dental cover can be availed after a waiting period of nine months.
  • The list of clinics covered by this policy is available here.
Axa Health perfect 2
  • Dental cover up to AED 4,000  for routine and complex.
  • 20 percent of the fee has to be borne by the insured.
  • Dental cover can be availed after a waiting period of nine months.
  • The list of clinics covered by this policy is available here.
Axa Health perfect 4
  • Dental cover up to AED 3,000  for routine and complex.
  • 20 percent of the fee has to be borne by the insured.
  • Dental cover can be availed after a waiting period of nine months.
  • The list of clinics covered by this policy is available here.