Free Braces
Prerequisites | Questions | Procedure
Make an appointment
T +43 (1) 405 25 15
Prerequisites for free braces
- The treating dentist is a participating orthodontics partner with the health insurance fund.
- Patient is under 18 years of age at the start of treatment (=insertion of braces).
- The teeth show significant IOTN (=Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need) 4 or 5 malocclusion.
- No cosmetic braces (e.g., white brackets) are used.
Questions about the free braces
As a layman, what am to understand by a IOTN 4 or 5 malocclusion?
This indicates significant misalignments of the teeth or jaw.
Who decides whether my child receives free braces?
The participating orthodontist.
Are free braces available for all malocclusions?
No. Braces are only free of charge for children and adolescents if their teeth show a minimum deviation from the ideal tooth position. The malocclusion must have a severity level of IOTN 4 or 5.
Do the free braces have to be approved?
Free braces are not subject to approval — provided that it is a correction of a significant malocclusion of the teeth as explained above.
My child already has braces. Is it possible to switch to the free braces during a current treatment year?
In the event of ongoing orthodontic treatment in accordance with the old regulations, switching to the free braces is possible if the dentist and the patient fulfill the requirements of the free braces at the time of the change.
This means that the medical professionals must have the appropriate training and the children must have an IOTN level 4 or 5 malocclusion.
The procedure for the free braces
1) Make an appointment to determine if a malocclusion is affecting your child's teeth.
The teeth show significant IOTN (=Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need) 4 or 5 malocclusion.
Termin vereinbaren
2) Diagnosis
- Findings that a malocclusion is affecting your child's teeth.
- Classification of the malocclusion as per grades 1-5.
- In the event of classification as grade 1 to 3, treatment can be carried out as before with free choice of the type of braces.
- In the event of classification as grade 4 or 5, the necessary documents, such as tooth models, photos, x-rays, etc., will be prepared at the next appointment.
- At this point at the latest, an entitlement check is carried out with the health insurance company via eCard, which normally results in an immediate approval of the treatment.
3) Start of treatment
The fixed braces are inserted (glued).
4) Examination appointments
Regular examination appointments to check the braces.
5) End of treatment
The teeth have now reached the target position and the fixed braces are removed. The final documents such as models, photos and x-rays are prepared.
6) Stabilisation of the teeth (retention)
After the braces are removed, a night splint is usually used to stabilise the result.
The stabilisation phase is of central importance for long-term maintenance of the correct tooth position.